A Royal Bengal tiger cub, estimated to be seven to eight months old, was rescued from an abandoned house in a village in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, on Friday. The cub was driven out of the forest due to heavy rainfall, causing concern among local residents. Forest officials responded promptly to ensure the animal’s safety and well-being.
Officials said a villager first noticed the cub near his house on Thursday night, and locals soon alerted forest officials and kept watch over the animal with flashlights. A senior forest team, including Karanjia DFO Ajay Kumar Sahu, ACF Prabhat Kumar Kuanr, Similipal Tiger Reserve Deputy Director ACF Phalguni Behera and ACF Ashok Kumar Das, who reached the spot, found that the cub appeared ill and required veterinary attention. Using nets and a specialised transport cage, the rescue team safely secured the animal around noon and shifted it to the Thakurmunda forest range office.
A team led by Thakurmunda range officer Umakanta Behera and forester Bidyadhar Mahanta reached the village around 9 pm.
Field Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve and Baripada Regional Chief Conservator of Forests Prakash Chand Gogineni said the cub was undergoing veterinary examination and treatment. “After it recovers and attains the required fitness, the cub will be shifted to a larger rehabilitation enclosure at Jamuani in the core area of the Similipal Tiger Reserve,” he said, adding that it will be kept under observation until it develops the hunting skills needed to survive independently.
