Royal Bengal tiger hunts sambar deer in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Forest officials have intensified security and patrolling in Odisha to protect the big cat after it was spotted hunting.
A Royal Bengal tiger was spotted hunting a sambar deer in the core area of the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha on Monday evening, according to Kalinga TV and Odisha Bytes.
The animal was seen earlier that afternoon in the sanctuary's tourism zone. Approximately 40 tourists in four safari vehicles witnessed the tiger while it was exploring the forest habitat.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Anshu Pragyan Das said the hunt in the late evening was an important development regarding the animal's adaptation to the habitat.
Following the sighting, the Forest Department increased patrolling along river routes and the western boundary of the sanctuary. Police from the Sambalpur and Bargarh districts are providing intelligence support to monitor the area.
Authorities have alerted local residents and informers to report suspicious activities such as poaching or the use of snares. DFO Anshu Pragyan Das announced a reward of Rs 1,000 for anyone providing useful information about such threats.
Wildlife officials are working to determine the tiger's age, sex, and origin. Photographs from camera traps will be sent to experts at the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to identify the animal via its stripe pattern.