BENGALURU: The Forest Department has decided that the two tigresses which were captured over the last two days in Bandipur and Nagarhole tiger reserves will remain in captivity and will not be released back in the wild. After their capture on Tuesday, the tigers had been relocated to Chamarajendra Zoological Park in Mysuru for further treatment and recovery.
The tiger that was captured at Hediyala range in Bandipur Tiger Reserve was a 10-year-old female and had been severely injured in a fight with another tiger. It had wounds in the shoulders, hind limbs, paws, stomach and other parts and was infested with maggots.
Another tigress, captured in Antarsanthe range of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, had strayed almost 4 km from the reserve and for the last two days, it had been stalking Naganahalli and another village, thereby creating a panic situation. This tigress had killed four heads of cattle — some partly eaten — and was in fact looking for easy prey outside the protected area. On Tuesday evening, it killed one more animal which was taken away by the villagers. Officials said the tigress was not going back to the forest even after killing the prey — they usually go back — and this led to her capture.