Shimla, June 18
The Forest officials in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have intensified monitoring efforts after a Royal Bengal tiger was spotted in the Khara block of the Paonta Sahib forest range, raising concerns about the big cat’s movement across state boundaries.
The tiger’s presence was confirmed through footage captured by a camera trap installed in the forest area. Officials said additional evidence, including pugmarks and claw marks found near the scene, indicates the animal had been moving through the area for at least 2 to 3 days.
The sighting has sparked speculation that the tiger could be the same big cat that has remained unrecorded in Uttarakhand’s Rajaji National Park for nearly a year. Khara lies about 80 kilometers from the national park, making interstate travel possible, according to forest officials.
Authorities from both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are now closely tracking the tiger’s movement. Surveillance measures have been strengthened, with more camera traps installed in the area to gather further information about the animal’s route and behaviour. Officials said the tiger’s gender has not yet been determined.
Information about the sighting has been shared with the Rajaji National Park administration, and a team from the park is expected to visit the area in the coming days as part of the ongoing assessment.
As a precautionary measure, members of the Gaddi shepherd community who move through the region have been advised to remain vigilant.
Residents of the area said there had been reports of tiger sightings in the past, but no concrete evidence had been available until now. A local resident, Jagat, said a tiger had been seen in the region earlier as well, though there was no digital proof at the time.
The latest sighting comes amid increased wildlife activity in Himachal Pradesh. Just last week, a snow leopard was captured on a camera trap in the Greater Himalayan National Park in Kullu district at an altitude of around 3,000 to 3,500 meters above sea level, marking another notable wildlife observation in the state.
