Royal Bengal Tigress and Cubs Spotted in Dhemaji's Poba Reserve Forest

Tigress and Cubs Sighted in Poba Reserve Forest

Dhemaji, May 26: Officials from the Jonai forest range, part of the Dhemaji territorial forest division, have reported that a Royal Bengal tigress and her cubs have been seen in the riverine regions of the Poba reserve forest (RF) recently.

Multiple pugmarks of the tigress were detected in the Oiramghat and Kobuchapori sections of the Poba RF, which borders the Pasighat reserve forest and the Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.

It has been noted that the tigress recently preyed on a domestic cow that wandered into the forest near Oiramghat for grazing.

In response to the sightings of the tiger, forest officials have warned local villagers to avoid entering the forest and to keep their livestock away from these areas.

Previously, the Jonai range foresters had also found tiger pugmarks intermittently. They mentioned that male tigers from distant regions might visit during the breeding season, although the reserve forests are not typically recognized as tiger habitats.

In a recent update, wildlife officials from the Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary confirmed the presence of Royal Bengal tigers in the vicinity following a camera-trap survey conducted earlier this month.

These officials had previously noted indirect evidence of potential tiger activity around the sanctuary's edges but were able to confirm the presence after capturing a photograph of a Royal Bengal tiger through the camera trap.

Foresters and wildlife officials are optimistic about the return of tigers to the reserve forest after a two-decade absence, viewing it as a positive outcome of ongoing conservation efforts by the department.

Officials have urged residents of nearby villages to remain calm regarding the tiger's presence, emphasizing that the arrival of this species could enhance environmental conservation and promote eco-tourism in the region.