Tiger sighted near Pauni school, forest dept on alert

Time of India

30-04-2025

Nagpur: A tiger on the prowl in Pauni tehsil of Bhandara district has sent jitters among locals. The forest department is on high alert after the big cat was spotted near a school in the town, situated about 100 kilometres from Nagpur. Although the school is closed for summer vacation, the presence of a two-year-old tiger near human settlements has triggered panic, forcing foresters to sound the alarm.
This male tiger is the offspring of tigress T-5 from the Pauni wildlife range. According to sources, the tiger is struggling to establish dominance as a dominant male already resides in the jungle, which might be pushing it towards urban habitats. "The tiger has been sighted multiple times around Pauni, particularly in the Wainganga river basin area. Villagers from Korambhi and Itgaon have also reported sighting this big cat," a forest official said.
Cattle kills have been reported in these areas, and the tiger was also seen in agricultural fields. "Now, villagers are concerned about the possibility of a tiger attack," said the official. The forest department is monitoring its movement, but no decision has been taken on capturing it. The tiger's increasing forays into human habitats led to a meeting between villagers, the forest department, and other stakeholders recently. Villagers have requested that the tiger be caught and removed from the area before any human fatalities occur.
Meanwhile, in the forest area of Nakadongri, a two-year-old tiger was spotted near Dongri, Chandmara, and Kurmuda. A team from the Rapid Response Team (RRT) of Bhandara Forest Division, along with forest staff from Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Project and Nakadongri, tranquilized the tiger under the guidance of deputy conservator of forests (Bhandara), Rahul Gawai.