After 90 days of terrorizing Lucknow’s Rehmankheda area, the elusive tiger has finally been captured by the forest department team. On Wednesday evening, the tiger was tranquillised in Zone-2 of the Rehmankheda forest and safely captured after a tense operation.
Aggressive Capture Operation
The capture was not without its challenges. Initially, the tiger did not faint after the first tranquilliser dart was fired. Instead, it became aggressive, roaring loudly and making the situation more dangerous. Forest experts Dr. Nasir from Kanpur Zoo and Dr. Daksh from Pilibhit surrounded the animal and chased it for approximately 500 metres before successfully firing a second tranquilliser dart. The tiger then fell unconscious and was safely caged.
Tiger’s Size and Health
Weighing approximately 230 kg and estimated to be 3-4 years old, the tiger was immediately transported to the BKT (Bakshi Ka Talab) range office. There, it will receive medical treatment from a team of wildlife doctors.
High-Tech Tracking Efforts
The forest department employed cutting-edge technology to track the tiger. AI thermal sensor cameras were installed at five strategic locations, and the area was monitored by three thermal drones. On Wednesday, when the AI camera detected the tiger’s location, the forest team quickly responded and located the tiger hiding in the bushes.
Panic in Local Villages
The presence of the tiger had caused widespread panic in about 60 villages, with villagers avoiding going outside at night. Over the past few months, the tiger had hunted 25 animals, with its most recent victim being a cow in a wheat field on Wednesday morning. Prior to this, it had also hunted a calf earlier in the week.
Tracking Technology and Ongoing Search
To track the tiger, the forest department worked with expert doctors from Bengaluru who monitored the animal’s movements via AI cameras. These cameras sent real-time alerts to the department, providing precise locations of the tiger within minutes.
In addition to the technology, drones were used to search the area, and elephants Diana and Sulochana were brought in to help locate the tiger in dense parts of the forest.
Conclusion of the Operation
With over 100 forest department officers, staff, and wildlife doctors working tirelessly to capture the tiger, the operation has finally come to a successful conclusion. The tiger is now safely in captivity and will be monitored and treated by experts to ensure its well-being. This marks the end of a prolonged search that had caused widespread concern among the local communities.
