Cub of tigress Avni rescued

Mumbai: In a huge relief to the state forest department, one of the female cubs of tigress Avni, who died after being shot on sight in Yavatmal district, was rescued at 3 pm Saturday. The forest department had especially brought in a team from Madhya Pradesh to carry out the rescue operation. The female cub is being sent to the Pench tiger reserve.

Earlier in November, the death of Avni sparked a huge debate on the government’s stance on tiger conservation. While several attempts were being made to find the two cubs, a chain-link fence was erected in the Ralegaon landscape of Yavatmal district, where the cubs were last seen.

“The chain-link fence was erected on an 80 hectare area, inside which a smaller enclosure was built for the cubs. The cub was also cornered by four elephants, after which, it was tranquilised by shooting a dart,” said Sunil Limaye, additional principal chief conservator of forest.

“We are still carrying out the operation to rescue the male cub; hopefully, it will be completed within the next two days,” he said.

The female cub nicknamed “Shourya” by wildlife enthusiasts is around one-year-old and weighs 80 kg.

“The cub should not be kept in captivity for a longer time, as a few hectares of land cannot be its natural home. Once she starts making her own kills, she should be released in the wild,” said Dr Jerryl Banait, wildlife activist who moved the SC against the shoot-on-sight order for tigress Avni.

“According to the National Tiger Conserv-ation Protocol, the final decision on the cubs will be made by the committee,” said an official.     

Meanwhile, both the cubs will be rehabilitated at the 10 hectare enclosure set up for orphaned cubs in the Pench reserve. Both cubs will be rehabilitated at the 10 hectare enclosure in the Pench reserve.