Bhubaneswar: A tiger has been spotted in the forests under Bonai forest division of Sundargarh district, with its presence confirmed through pugmarks and camera trap images. The big cat is currently roaming in and around the jungles under the Sola forest range.
According to forest officials, the tiger’s presence was detected after locals reported seeing pugmarks in the Beladihi forest of Bonai Range. The Forest Department has taken samples of the pugmarks and is investigating to determine the big cat’s identity.
The Forest Department has intensified patrolling in the area and installed 30 camera traps to track the tiger’s movement. Experts believe the dense forests under Bonai forest division provide an ideal habitat for tigers.
The Forest Department has assured that precautions are being taken to prevent conflict with humans and ensure the tiger’s safety.
Forest officials suspect that the tiger may have dispersed from Chhattisgarh’s Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary, given its movement pattern. A tiger was previously tracked moving through multiple divisions in Odisha.
