In what seems to be a case of invisible big cats on the prowl, at least two tigers and cubs have taken shelter in the Nashik district, according to a wildlife warden, while the forest and wildlife departments maintain that there are no tigers in the region.
Speaking to The Asian Age, wildlife warden Amit Khare said that he had seen the tiger himself and claimed that hundreds of others had also spotted it. “I cannot disclose the area due to poachers who might begin hunting,” said Mr Khare, who has studied the habitats of tigers for the last 15 years.
Interestingly, wildlife officials have dismissed the claim and do not believe it. Assistant conservator of forests Kirti Jamdade said that no such record of tigers being sighted exists in Nashik. “I will call the field officials and get feedback,” Ms Jamdade said.
“Hundreds of villagers, including the sarpanch have seen the creature. It has not attacked any human, which means it has plenty of prey. I have written to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, police and government departments and demanded more forest guards, vehicles and funds,” Mr Khare said.
It may be recalled that on February 29, 2008, a farmer Vijay Tambe (22) claimed that a tiger with black stripes attacked him. Hearing his screams, his relatives and villagers rushed to save him. The tiger fled, according to the victim. A few days ago, villagers had claimed that a tiger had been sighted in the area.
Deputy conservator Anita Patil said that villagers generally term leopards as wagh (tiger), while it is actually called bibtya (leopard). “We have no records of any tiger being resident or being sighted in Nashik,” Ms Patil said.
Tigers have been sighted in Yawal and other parts of Jalgaon and
Dhule districts and come from Amravati and Melghat areas, sources said.