Bhubaneswar: Pug marks of a Royal Bengal Tiger have been sighted in the Dhangergudi and Kunjunala areas of Halma Panchayat under Lephripara forest range in Sundargarh district. The local villagers are panicked due to the tiger’s movement, with some even claiming to have spotted the big cat in a paddy field near the forest area and captured photos.
The forest department has confirmed the presence of the tiger through pug mark identification in the fields and nearby forest areas. They are keeping a close watch on the tiger’s movement and have alerted villagers through loudspeakers to stay vigilant.
This is not the first time the tiger has been spotted in the area, as it was also seen in 2023 in the same locality. The forest department believes the tiger roams the forests along the Chhattisgarh and Odisha border.
Villagers have been advised to be cautious and avoid venturing into the forest, especially during night.
