Release Kanha tiger into the wild: NTCA member secy

ANGUL: Member secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)  Anup Nayak, on Thursday advised the Satkosia Tiger Reserve authorities to release the big cat brought from Kanha National Park into the wild as per NTCA protocol.“The first tiger, which was brought from Kanha National Park on June 21, needs to be released into the forest. However, the Wildlife Institute of India would take a call in this regard”, he said, adding that the tiger’s health is being constantly monitored by doctors, scientists and forest officials, including those from Kanha National Park through cameras round the clock. Nayak added that no human penetration into the enclosure is allowed.  

Besides the tiger, a tigress was translocated from Bandhavgarh National Park to Satkosia on June 28. Nayak visited Raigoda where the felines have been kept and held discussions with the officials of the Forest department and Wildlife Institute of India. He monitored the condition and activities of the tigers from CCTV footage. 

Nayak asked the Satkosia Tiger Reserve authorities to prepare a post-release monitoring strategy as per NTCA’s protocol. Nayak also held discussions with forest officials of Narasinghpur West and East and Hindol range. The NTCA member secretary informed that a decision on translocation of four more tigers from Madhya Pradesh will be taken after monsoon. “We are presently concentrating on the release of the two tigers into the wild. We will closely watch how well they adapt to their new surroundings and then contemplate bringing the rest from MP,” he said.