The Gujarat government has confirmed the presence of a tiger in the state, days after a man claimed he saw the big cat crossing a road in Mahisagar district. State forest minister Ganpatsinh Vasava said on Tuesday, 12 February that the carnivore was caught on cameras set up by the forest department in that area.
“It has now been confirmed. A tiger in the age-group of 7 to 8 years has been seen in Mahisagar district,” Vasava told reporters in Gandhinagar. The striped animal was last seen in Gujarat in 1989.
Subsequent surveys carried out every four years by the central government showed no presence of tigers in the state, he said.
Tiger Spotted by a Teacher
On Sunday, 10 February, a local government schoolteacher Mahesh Mahera claimed he saw a tiger crossing a road near Boriya village in Mahisagar, over 120 kilometres from Ahmedabad, on 6 February and clicked its picture on his mobile phone. He shared it with friends on social media platforms.
Mahera claimed he spotted the tiger when he was returning from school on 6 February evening.
“Around 5:15 pm on 6 February, I was passing through the area in a four-wheeler when I spotted a tiger emerging from one side of the road and crossing over to the other side. I stopped the car and I clicked its picture. It clearly shows it is a tiger.”Mahesh Mahera, local government schoolteacher.
The photo soon went viral and based on the teacher's claim, the forest department set up several camera traps in that area.
Tiger Strayed from Neighbouring States
Vasava said the tiger might have come to Gujarat from any of the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra, where the striped animals are found.
“The Madhya Pradesh government has said that a tiger has gone missing from Ujjain. It is possible that the tiger seen here can be from any of these neighbouring states which have tigers.”Ganpatsinh Vasava, State Forest Minister.
He said the state government will now contact the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which has the data of tigers across the country, to ascertain where the feline came from.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will also be involved in carrying out a survey in the area to find out if this region is conducive for tigers, he said. “We now agree that there is a tiger in Gujarat. WII will study if the area could be developed for tigers. We are also seeking NTCA's guidance,” he said.
Forest Department to Keep a Close Eye
Vasava said it was yet to be ascertained how long and where the lone tiger had been roaming in Gujarat. “We are yet to ascertain if that area was the tiger's permanent residence or whether it migrated from neighbouring states. It is certain that Gujarat is also a part of tiger's natural corridor,” he said.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Akshay Saxena said evidences like pug marks and scats, as well as hair and scratch marks on a tree had to some extent confirmed the tiger’s presence in the region.
“Later, camera traps were set up and we have now got visual evidence of a tiger in the area. It is not necessary that we will find the tiger in the same area, so we will continue to keep a watch,” he said.
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