Tiger on the prowl ?
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 25 2011:
Speculation over whether or not any tiger population is left in Manipur has been laid to rest if a Tamenglong villager is to be believed.
After a rare case of lynching a tiger in 2005 by some residents of Bhalok village in Tamenglong district led to high expectation that the tiger is still prowling in the jungles of Manipur, one Mathiew Pamei of Tamenglong Khunjao claimed that five cows were found killed by tiger(s) some days back.
Mathiew informed The Sangai Express that out of 10 cows reared at his father in-law's orange farm five were found killed at different spots near the orange farm.
He said cattle corpses including some mutilated remains and in decomposed state were spotted by the villagers when they returned to the farm after nearly a week of engagement in harvesting activities at a nearby paddy field.
Mathiew maintained that some of the cattle had bite marks on the neck area while body parts were found missing in others.
He also informed that various pug marks could be seen all around the spots where the cattles were discovered.
When contacted, a Forest Department Wildlife Wing official said it would be premature to rule out tiger population in the state, particularly in the jungles of Tamenglong district.
While confirming the 2005 incident of killing a tiger by Bhalok villagers, the official said based on information received by the Department a team went to Bhalok village in 2007 and recorded pug marks and tiger faeces.
Inspite of the faeces sample sent for examination to the Wildlife Institute of India and had been reportedly examined confirmatory report is yet to be provided to the state Department, the official revealed.