The four cubs, around three-months-old, were born to a resident tigress nick-named 'Chandni' in the proposed sanctuary area. Chief conservator of forests (CCF) CR Gajbhiye confirmed that a tigress had delivered four cubs.
"The cubs were actually sighted by some field staffers and local villagers a few days ago. We have sounded an alert and security has been beefed up by posting additional staff in the area," Gajbhiye stressed.
"We had information about small-sized pugmarks. We thought it could be of leopard but presence of tiger cubs was confirmed after direct sighting," senior officials pleading anonymity told TOI.
This is the third record of a tigress delivering cubs in the Kharangla-Ranmangli forest area. In 2009, two tigresses with three and two cubs respectively were sighted in Bhiwapur forest range.
The tigress that fell in an open well in Tass last October was one among the two cubs of Ranmangli tigress. The cubs of both the tigresses might have separated. Only a scientific study can clear the air of confusion about exact number of tigers in the area.
"With the arrival of new cubs, we expect there may be around 10-12 tigers in the Bhiwapur range now. The 25 sq km forest area, which is contiguous to Paoni in Bhandara and Brahmapuri in Chandrapur is too small to accommodate increasing tigers," said an official.
Two days ago, principal secretary (forest) Praveen Pardeshi had sighted a male tiger named Chaitram for nearly half-an-hour in Navegaon area. Pardeshi was on way to Gadchiroli to attend official meetings. Read the full report here.
Source: Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Nagpur.
