Strict security has been launched for the tiger in the buffer areas of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) in the wake of this tiger making a prey of ox and buffalo of farmers who in this hour of extreme cash crunch want immediate payment of compensation for killing of their live stock but the PTR’s coffer is empty so far payment of compensation is concerned said sources. Sources said in just two weeks’ time the number of kills has gone to six.
Three teams of tiger trackers each team consisting of ten personnel are on the trail of the pug marks of this tiger and are keeping close tabs on this big cat for its life and security said sources. Killing by tiger evokes a kind of hatred for the big cat and outbreak of conflict between tiger and man in such scenario is not ruled out said sources. For tiger’s security and to keep the poachers dark about the locations of the tiger the Pioneer has withheld the names of the locations where this tiger is leaving behind its prey. Sources said a fleet of 30 (3x10 =30) tiger trackers are taking a detour of the tiger’s pug marks.
DFO Buffer PTR Mahaling confirmed that three teams each comprising ten tiger trackers are on the job to locate pug marks to find out which way/route the tiger will further proceed. Mahaling agreed that security for this tiger has been beefed up for reasons known to everyone. Mahaling admitted that PTR’s coffer for payment of compensation in such cases is empty as buffer has already spent `16 lakh in making compensation in the event of killing/destruction of lives/property of human beings/houses/ livestocks etc.
“We have no fund now for any compensation” Mahaling reiterated. After Haratu kill of three by the tiger the big cat is learnt to have moved deep into an area falling under latehar district (location known but withheld) as pug marks have not been found in recent days in buffer area of the PTR.
AS a measure to stifle any outburst of revenge by cattle owners over killing of their cattle by tiger in this time of hard delivery of cash victim cattle owners have been drafted by PTR officials to keep a track on this tiger.
Mahaling said, “We have in these three teams some of the cattle owners too who lost their cattle to this tiger. Their presence in the team will lessen their burden of loss besides their tracking together with our tiger trackers will give them a sense of attachment to our PTR.”
Mahaling shared an interesting thing with The Pioneer that at Haratu where the tiger had three kills recently the tiger ate it just for one day and thereafter the tiger did not come to its fallen prey any more. The leftover was then consumed by the primitive tribal people Beerjiyas.