Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary has once again earned its stripes as a prime habitat for apex predators following the confirmed sighting of a wild tiger within its lush corridors.
The big cat was captured on camera traps installed across the sanctuary, while forest personnel on routine patrol also reported direct sightings of the grand predator.
The news has sparked quiet celebration and heightened vigilance among wildlife enthusiasts and forest authorities alike. According to Anshu Pragyan Das, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Hirakud Wildlife Division, the tiger is believed to have wandered into Debrigarh through the Dechuan-Lakhanpur forest corridor.
However, essential details regarding the big cat remain wrapped in mystery. “Its origin, identity, and gender are yet to be established,” DFO Das stated. Images captured by the camera traps are being dispatched to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), where scientists will analyse the stripe patterns to determine the tiger’s exact identity and place of origin.
To ensure the safety of both the tiger and nearby communities, the Odisha Forest Department has swung into action with an intensive monitoring operation:
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100 Camera Traps Installed: Strategically placed across high-frequency movement zones and waterholes within the sanctuary.
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27 Daily Patrol Teams: Active ground units conducting relentless round-the-clock monitoring along forest tracks and sanctuary boundaries.
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Three-Tier Night Grid: Specialised nocturnal security checks deployed to prevent poaching and track the big cat’s movement patterns.
This sighting holds significant ecological importance for Debrigarh, which previously hosted a resident tiger between 2022 and 2024. That big cat spent nearly eighteen months roaming the sanctuary’s rich landscape before tragically falling victim to an electric fence in Chhattisgarh’s neighbouring Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary after migrating across state borders.
With prey densities on the rise and robust protection measures currently active, wildlife officials remain hopeful that this new guest will find Debrigarh a safe long-term sanctuary.
