Maharashtra: Tiger, which killed 13, captured in Gadchiroli

Forest department officials and the tranquillised tiger CT1, which was captured on Thursday morning in Wadsa division, Gadchiroli. Pic/Maharashtra forest department

A tiger that killed 13 people since December 2021 was captured near Wadsa division in Gadchiroli in an extremely challenging operation early on Thursday morning. Teams from the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) as well as the forest department's Wadsa, Bramhapuri and Bhandara forest divisions and the Amravati rapid rescue team (RRT) worked together to subdue the tiger, CT1.

In a meeting that took place on October 4 under the chairmanship of the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), instructions were given to capture CT1. The forest department was given a deadline of October 31 to capture the big cat, which had been lurking in Wadsa.

Dhananjay Waybhase, deputy conservator of forest, Wadsa division, said, "A total of 13 human deaths were caused by CT1. Six of these occurred in the Wadsa division, four in the Bhandara division, and three in the Bramhapuri division. We are happy that the tiger has been successfully tranquillised."

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Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, field director of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, was given the responsibility of coordinating the entire operation and he played a key role in its success. In the operation that was carried out on a war footing, the forest department used all-forest vehicles, real-time monitoring systems, trap nets, an aluminium machan and a bunker cage.

Dr Ravikant Khobragade, veterinary officer (wildlife), TATR, was the one who tranquillised the tiger. He told mid-day, "On Wednesday, we learnt that the tiger had killed cattle in the Vakumata area near Desaiganj. Later, it took our bait a few kilometres away. Without wasting time, we went to the site and sat in the iron bunker cage. We kept vigil all night. On Thursday morning, this tiger came near the kill, following which we darted it. This operation would have not been successful without the support of our team members, including Police Naik AC Marathe - the sharpshooter - and biologist Rakesh Ahuja and his teammates and other members of the Wadsa forest department." It is said that the tiger is healthy and it has been taken to the Gorewada zoo in Nagpur.