Tiger Cub Vanishes in MP's Panna Reserve, Authorities Claim 'Natural Process'
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Synopsis
The disappearance of a tiger cub from Panna Tiger Reserve has raised concerns among park authorities and wildlife enthusiasts. The cub, part of a litter of four by tigress P-141, may have been abandoned as part of a natural process. A search operation is underway, but no signs of the cub have been found.
Key Takeaways
- Location: Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
- Recent Disappearance: A tiger cub is missing from the reserve.
- Natural Process: Tigresses may abandon weaker offspring.
- Intensive Search: Teams are combing the park with elephants.
- Population Growth: Panna has seen a resurgence in its tiger population.
Bhopal, March 27 (NationPress) The vanishing of a tiger cub from Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) has once again thrust the reserve into the limelight, garnering the interest of park officials and wildlife aficionados alike.
The cub in question was part of tigress P-141's latest litter, which saw the birth of four cubs. These playful cubs, aged seven to eight months, were often spotted enjoying their time with their mother, entertaining visitors until about two weeks ago.
In a conversation with IANS, Anjana Suchita Tirkey, the field director of the park, clarified that the cub is “not necessarily missing, as some might think.” She emphasized that in the wild, tigresses may abandon or even eliminate weaker offspring as a natural strategy for survival.
“This is a natural occurrence; normally, a tigress cares for her cubs for up to two years in the wild,” Tirkey mentioned, adding, “A dedicated team of field staff is actively searching for the cub, and if it is located alive, it will need to be cared for in captivity by park authorities.”
As per Tirkey, the cub may have been left behind around two weeks ago when it was last seen in the park's tourist area.
Videos showcasing the cubs frequently went viral on social media, highlighting the flourishing tiger population in the reserve — a remarkable achievement for Panna, which had witnessed the total extinction of its tiger population in 2009.
Yet, the delight in observing these cubs has now shifted to worry, with only three cubs remaining alongside the tigress, while the “missing one” has been unaccounted for for over two weeks.
This incident has prompted a heightened response from the forest department. Under Tirkey's direction, an intensive search operation is currently in progress, involving teams of forest officials and supported by four elephants.
These teams are meticulously scouring the park's grasslands, tracking pugmarks in hopes of finding the cub.
Despite their diligent efforts, no signs of the cub have been discovered to this point. Skilled mahouts and forest staff remain committed to locating the cub and uncovering the reasons behind its disappearance.
The officer reported that the park is home to 63 adult tigers. The tiger census accounts for those two years or older, with 30 being female.
