sick tiger cub that strayed into Khaparkhai village under the Thakurmunda forest range was safely trapped and rescued by forest officials on Friday.
The village, located in the Karanjia Forest Division near the edge of the Similipal Tiger Reserve, spent a tense night after realising a wild big cat was taking shelter in their neighbourhood.
Tense Night in Khaparkhai
The incident began on the night of September 24, when local resident Tuke Ho noticed the young tiger lurking near his house. As word spread, panicked villagers gathered with flashlights to keep an eye on the animal while immediately alerting local forest authorities.
Thakurmunda Range Officer Umakanta Behera and Forester Bidyadhar Mahanta arrived at the spot around 9:00 PM with field staff. Taking advantage of the darkness, the cub initially retreated toward the forest boundary. However, heavy midnight rainfall forced the young animal back into the village, where it took refuge inside a vacant Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) house.
Demonstrating notable calmness and courage, the villagers promptly locked the door from the outside, keeping the sleeping cub safely contained while forest officials guarded the structure throughout the night.
Coordinated Rescue Operation
By September 25 morning, a senior team arrived at the scene, including Karanjia DFO Ajay Kumar Sahu, ACF Prabhat Kumar Kuanr, Similipal Tiger Reserve Deputy Director, ACF Phalguni Behera, and ACF Ashok Kumar Das, along with staff from the Thakurmunda and Similipal range divisions.
After assessing the situation through the structure, experts determined that the cub—estimated to be between 7 and 8 months old—was ill and in need of medical attention. Using nets and a specialised transport cage, teams safely secured the animal around noon without causing further harm and moved it to the Thakurmunda Range Office.
Medical Care and Path Back to the Wild
Field Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve and Baripada RCCF, Prakash Chand Jogineni, confirmed that the cub is undergoing comprehensive veterinary examination and treatment.
Once stabilised, the cub will be shifted to a large, specialised rehabilitation enclosure at Jamuani, situated in the core region of the Similipal Tiger Reserve. Officials will monitor its health and natural instincts in the enclosure until it develops the hunting skills required to survive independently in the wild, after which it will be released back into its natural habitat.
