A woman from the Kalagarh dam colony in Corbett Tiger Reserve was found murdered in the jungle by a wild animal. Corbett officials stated that it is yet to be confirmed whether the woman was killed by a tiger or a leopard while adding that the pug marks of the man-eater tigress, who is believed to have killed six people in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, were last seen near Amangarh in UP.
However, a project leader of the Wildlife Trust of India has averred that his team saw the pug marks of this big cat going towards Corbett tiger reserve. It is being suspected that the woman from Kalagarh could have been killed by the man-eater tigress but department officials would be in a position to comment on this after tracking operations started on Wednesday.
Harnandi Singh, aged about 45 years and other women had gone to collect firewood in the jungle during the morning. She did not return home and later her body was found in the woods of Kalagarh range in the evening. According to the Corbett deputy Director Saket Badola, it is yet to be confirmed whether the woman was killed by a leopard or a tiger. Her body was discovered in the evening and by that time it was not feasible to look for the pug marks and other signs to track the killer. The signs would be studied and tracking of the killer would be attempted on Wednesday, he added.
Meanwhile, WTI project leader Dr DS Chauhan said that his team had found pug marks of the man-eater tigress from UP going towards Corbett on Sunday evening. Kumaon circle, chief conservator of forests, Param Jit Singh said that tigers and other wild animals frequently travel between Corbett and Amangarh so there is possibility of tigers being misidentified through pug marks as the area in question sees regular wildlife movement. However, he stressed that department staff has been posted in the area and with permission being granted by the chief wildlife warden, the man-eater would be tranquilised if needed.