Tiger, Hand-Reared, Released in Wild, Back in Cage

Only 24 days after the tigress code named `TF2′ was released in the wild in Pench National Park, forest authorities had to bring her back in as the hand-reared big cat failed to make it in the wild. At least for now.

The tigress was dehydrated and frail and had come close to Khapa village, looking for prey and putting her life at risk with humans. As reported in The Times of India:

“The monitoring team tried to drive TF2 away by bursting crackers but was unsuccessful. The tigress was looking for easy prey after being unable to hunt in the wild and even mark its territory. It had been hand-reared in a large cage after being rescued as a cub and had not developed natural hunting skills. Its stay in the wild lasted for only 24 days.

“TF2 was dehydrated and weak. It was tranquillized and brought to the enclosure where it was offered a goat,” said MS Reddy, field director of Pench.

“Unable to hunt, it had been offered a goat on May 21, which it killed and consumed. However, wildlife wing officials felt more time should be given to TF2 to develop hunting skills, and continued to monitor it rigorously.”