Deogarh: Panic has spread among villagers in the Riamal forest range of Deogarh district after tiger pugmarks were spotted near Babajimath village in the Jharmunda forest, marking the first confirmed evidence of the big cat’s presence in the region.
For the past few days, locals had been speculating about a tiger roaming nearby, but discovery of pugmarks has intensified fears. Acting on the information, Forest Department officials rushed to the site, collected imprints, and sent them to experts for verification.
To track the animal’s movements, the department has installed trap cameras at multiple points in the forest and deployed special patrol teams. Loudspeaker announcements are also being made in villages to caution residents against venturing deep into the forest.
A special monitoring team, headed by the Riamal Forest Range Officer, has been constituted to keep a close watch on the situation. Officials noted that while leopards have previously been sighted in the area, this is the first time suspected pugmarks of a Royal Bengal Tiger have been recorded in the region.
The Forest Department has urged villagers to stay alert and report any further sightings of the animal immediately.
