Search operations for the missing tiger, Jai, have been resumed in the Wardha regions. According to sources, nearly 400 forest officials are involved in finding Jai. Though the search operations that commenced on Monday will wind up on Wednesday, officials said full-fledged search operations would commence post monsoons in the state. Jai, is considered to be the biggest tiger in central India.
Radio-collared Jai has been missing since mid-April, considering the last signal was received near Pauni in Bhandara district.
Srinivas Reddy, chief conservator of forests, Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, said. “There is a lot of pressure on the department to locate the animal for which we gave been working hard,” said Mr Reddy.
Rohit Karoo, the wildlife warden of Nagpur who is assisting the forest department in the operations, said, “We have educated the team to recognise Jai’s unique characteristics. The size of Jai’s pugmarks too has been shared with all the teams involved in the search operations. Moreover, the animal is radio-collared which will help us in identification in the initial stage.”
Experts believe that these search operations may lead to locating unidentified tigers as well.
Sudhir Mungantiwar, forest minister explained, “There were a number of challenges while locating Jai, owing to the rains. The department will commence its full-fledged search operation soon after the monsoon season.”
