Jaipur: A young sub-adult T-98 tiger straying from the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) is now precariously poised close to a railway line passing through the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR). The tiger has travelled a distance of nearly 150 km in his misadventure.Though the forest administration at the MHTR is elated after receiving its third guest, however, the proximity of the tiger to the railway tracks, a mere 10 km, is giving them a sleepless night.Some years back on July 15, 2003 another big cat “Broken Tail’’ that had strayed away from the RTR was crushed under the wheels of Rajdhani Express on these tracks in Darah forest.According forest officials, the movement of the tiger was recorded in Ghati Mata region of Darah range, outside the 82 square km enclosure that was constructed to prevent relocated tigers from going towards highway and railway tracks.Ghanshyam Sharma, Kota chief conservator of forest, said, “We have deployed our tracking teams for the big cat. I agree that the tiger is close to the railway track from Ghati end. But at present, we are not planning to tranquillise the animal.”Officials said that the railway track passes through a ravine for about 2 km with steep embankments on either side. “If by chance the tiger comes into the ravine near Albi Meeni Ka Mahal it will be difficult for it to trek up the gradient and death is certain,” said an official.As the big cat is exposed to threat, wildlife lovers have suggested tranquillising the tiger and installing radio collar for effective monitoring. MHTR, local advisory committee (LAC) member, Tapeshwar Singh Bhati, said, “It’s good news that tiger has reached MHTR through a corridor which was considered dead since ages. However, MHTR is not prepared to track a free roaming tiger. The forest department should immediately tranquillise and put collar around the tiger’s neck for effective monitoring,”Earlier, after evidence of the tiger was found in Sultanpur region on January 27, the forest department had proposed releasing the big cat in Seljar range of (MHTR) after tranquillising and fitting GPS-enabled collar.Officials claimed that the decision to shift the tiger to Seljar range of MHTR was taken as department had already obtained the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) permission.However, source at the MHTR are expecting alteration in the proposal after new chief wildlife warden joined the office.“It was claimed that department had NTCA permission and it could release tiger in Seljar. But, the NTCA gave nod to shift one tiger and two tigresses. Releasing a tiger in Seljar could have invited another controversy as shifting of two males during re-introduction programme is not advisable,” said a source.

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