Arrowhead's daughter spotted near human settlement, triggers alert in Ramgarh Vishdhari
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Jaipur: Heightened vigilance gripped the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) after tigress RBT 2507, recently reintroduced into the wild, was spotted near the fringes of a human settlement Wednesday.
The big cat, in search of territory, was observed near a public school, triggering alarm among residents and forest officials.
What sets this case apart is the tigress's lineage. RBT 2507 is the daughter of Ranthambhore's iconic tigress Arrowhead and the sister of Kankati, the sub-adult held responsible for killing a forest guard and a seven-year-old child in Ranthambhore earlier this year. This connection has intensified scrutiny, even though RBT 2507 has not exhibited aggressive behaviour so far.
The tigress was released into the wild on July 16.
Officials, though, are taking no chances. Forest teams used firecrackers to push the tigress back into the forest Wednesday. Three monitoring teams have been deployed in shifts to track her movement around the clock. If the animal ventures close to human habitation again, tranquilisation and capture may be considered.
An NTCA directive earlier this year led to the translocation of all three of Arrowhead's cubs from Ranthambhore, citing behavioural anomalies.
Kankati's aggressive incidents—and her male sibling also attacking and killing a human—fuelled by live bait feeding and poor hunting adaptation, were flagged as major concerns. RBT 2507 was chosen for release as she did not display hostile tendencies.
However, a senior source expressed apprehension: "Releasing these sub-adults into the wild was a risky decision. Two of them already attacked humans. Relocation doesn't erase that instinct."
Environmental activist Bhanwar Singh Hada said, "As of Thursday evening, she (RBT 2507) was within the forest near Tiger Hill, about 12 km from Bundi city. There is no immediate reason for alarm."
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