Tiger paw marks in Khandiapal, Bastar, create panic among villagers, forest department alert:Tiger paw marks were found in the Khandiapal area of the Tokapal block

News Topical, Digital Desk : The sighting of tiger paw prints in the Khandiapal area of the Tokapal block in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district has caused a stir. The Forest Department has also confirmed the presence of tiger paw prints. According to senior Forest Department officials, the tiger's paw prints indicate that it is an adult tiger and is in good health. This tiger is one of 35 tigers currently present in Chhattisgarh, roaming around Bastar district via Sitanadi Udanti and Kondagaon.

Forest department teams have been deployed in areas where tiger paw prints have been spotted, and villagers have been warned to remain vigilant. Villagers have been specifically prohibited from entering dense forests and the surrounding areas where tiger paw prints have been found.

The forest department team is making announcements in the villages.

Tiger censuses in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur Indravati Tiger Reserve have always been a matter of question. Clear data on the current tiger population remains elusive. However, decades ago, Bastar was a stronghold of this national animal, and once again, tigers are being spotted in the forests bordering the rural areas of Bastar district. Tiger paw prints have been spotted in the forests of Khandiapal in Tokapal, near the divisional headquarters of Jagdalpur.

However, according to officials, these are the paw prints of a single tiger, which has migrated from Sitanadi Udanti towards Bastar district. Forest department officials have formed special teams and issued instructions to monitor this tiger.

'Villagers need not panic due to tiger'

Meanwhile, forest department teams are constantly monitoring the tiger's route to ensure its safety. Bastar's Chief Conservator of Forests, Alok Tiwari, says that villagers need not panic due to this tiger, but caution is necessary. In areas where paw marks were seen, villagers have been prohibited from entering the forest and surrounding areas, and announcements are being made.

He stated that Chhattisgarh currently has 35 tigers. Through collective efforts and conservation efforts, the tiger population has increased, and currently, there are six confirmed tigers in the Indravati Tiger Reserve.

Tiger skin smuggling cases on the rise in Kanker

In Chhattisgarh, the highest number of tiger skin smuggling cases over the past five years have been reported from Kanker district. Bastar is a natural habitat for tigers, but questions have been raised about their safety. Bastar's Chief Conservator of Forests, Alok Tiwari, says that with the confirmed presence of tigers in the Tokapal block, the safety of the tigers in the Indravati Tiger Reserve has been prioritized.