After a tense and prolonged two-month operation, forest officials in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district have successfully captured a tiger responsible for two fatal attacks on farmers. The capture of the big cat, identified as T-115, brings temporary relief to the terrified villagers of Gondpipri taluka, who had staged massive protests following the back-to-back killings.
A Trail of Tragedy: The Two Fatal Attacks
The conflict began in October when the young tiger, aged around 3.5 years, claimed its first human victim. On October 18, farmer Bhauji Pal from Chak Pipri village was attacked and killed while working in his field. His partially eaten body was discovered the following day, sending shockwaves through the community.
The situation escalated dramatically just eight days later. On October 26, 45-year-old Alka Pendor of Ganesh Pipri village met a similar, tragic fate in her farm. These consecutive incidents, occurring within the Dhaba forest range, plunged the region into a state of fear and anger.
Public Outrage and the Arduous Hunt
The back-to-back killings pushed local patience to its limit. The very next day, on October 27, hundreds of enraged villagers took to the busy Aheri-Chandrapur highway. They blocked traffic for over three hours and staged a protest that lasted nearly nine hours, demanding immediate action from the authorities.
The forest department had already sought and received permission to capture the tiger after the first attack. However, the operation proved extremely challenging. A dense green cover left by a prolonged monsoon, combined with the tiger's frequent movement across different forest ranges, repeatedly foiled tracking teams.
The Final Capture and Lasting Concerns
Persistence finally paid off. After two months of relentless surveillance, officials located the animal in the Kemara beat of the adjoining Pombhurna range. A rapid response unit from the Chandrapur forest division sprang into action.
Led by veterinary officer Dr. Kundan Podchalwar and under the supervision of range forest officer Kishor Gaurkar, the team moved in. Sharp shooter Avinash Fulzele successfully tranquillised the tiger at around 6 pm on Thursday. The subdued animal was then caged and transported to the Transit Treatment Centre in Chandrapur.
While the capture has alleviated immediate public anxiety, forest officials acknowledge that this is not a permanent solution. The incident underscores the urgent need for long-term measures to address the recurring human-wildlife conflict in this region, where the boundaries between animal territory and human habitation continue to blur.
