Tiger spotted in Gujarat first time since 1992, wildlife officials confirm presence
Wildlife officials in Gujarat have confirmed the presence of a tiger in the state's Santrampur forest area. This marks the first time in 27 years, since 1992, that a tiger has been spotted in the state.
A tiger was last spotted in Gujarat along the Dang border in 1992 (Representative Image) | Photo Credit: BCCL
Ahmedabad: Twenty-seven years after it was last seen in the state of Gujarat, a tiger was recently spotted in the Santrampur area. Forest officials claim that the last tiger sighting was recorded in 1992 along the Dang border. The recent development has also earned Gujarat the distinction of being the only state in India with a presence of all three big cats of the leonine family, namely tiger, leopard and lion.
Wildlife officials in the state began a major combing operation after a government teacher spotted a tiger on February 9. The teacher in question, Mahesh Mahera first saw the tiger crossing a road near Boriya village in Lunawada taluka of Mahisagar district. The animal soon disappeared into the wilderness, however, Mahera managed to click pictures of the majestic cat on his mobile phone.
The teacher wasted no time in alerting forest rangers who swung into action and launched an operation to confirm the presence of the tiger in the Santrampur area. An official told media outlets that the department found droppings and hair on the outskirts of Boriya village where Mahera claims to have spotted the big cat. Claw marks were also found on a tree less than 1km from the village, claimed another officer.
Officials with the forest department have launched an "aggressive drive" which has led to them gathering hard evidence indicating the presence of a tiger in Lunawada, the officer told Times of India. He added that this is the first time a tiger has been spotted in the state of Gujarat after a long wait of 27 years.
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