A big cat suspected of being responsible for killing a man near Dhikuli village in the Sarpdhuli range of Corbett Tiger Reserve on March 25 has remained elusive.  The department staffs have placed cages and camera traps in the area where the man was killed and nearby areas but has not been able to establish the identity of the big cat responsible for killing the man. 

The villagers, however, stated that with the attacker neither being identified nor caged, they are afraid to venture out in the woods to collect firewood and fodders. The Corbett staffs have now expanded the area under surveillance with a total of 10 camera traps and two cages being placed. According to the Corbett deputy director Saket Badola, no signs of the tiger could be seen on Saturday in the area where the man was killed. “Though the locals had earlier said that they had seen a tigress in the area on the day the man was killed, we haven’t seen any sign of her. We have expanded the area under surveillance with two cages and 10 camera traps being installed. We are also patrolling the jungles on foot and on elephant back,” Badola said.

“A meeting was also held with the local hoteliers and villagers and we have requested them to avoid moving outside after sunset in areas with tiger presence. We have directed the hoteliers to ensure that the tourists avoid visiting such areas.  Apart from this, we have also cleared bushes from areas where human habitations are on the fringes of forests so that the movement of wildlife is clearly visible,” he added. While the villagers live in fear especially after sunset, officials believed that the big cat which killed the man on March 25 is not a man-eater. Though the killer has not been identified yet, it is suspected that a tiger believed to be responsible for three human kills since last year could be responsible for the latest kill.