Decision to send back tigress Sundari to Bandhavgarh National Park still on hold

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government recently said that no decision has been taken to send back the Royal Bengal tigress Sundari from Satakosia wildlife sanctuary to the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

The tigress allegedly mauled a woman to death in the wildlife sanctuary in Angul district last Wednesday. Enraged by the horrific incident, the villagers attacked the tigress and also demanded the relocation of the wild cat.

"We have informed the matter to Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Besides, we are waiting for the post-mortem report of the woman. We will abide by the decision of WII. But so far, no decision has been taken to relocate the tigress," said Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray.

He said it is not yet ascertained whether the woman died after being attacked by the tigress. "While the villagers claim the woman has been killed by the tigress, forest officials said if that had been the fact, then the prey would have been taken away by the predator. No such signs of attack have been noticed on the body," said the minister.

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