Tadoba tiger behind human kill captured after 2-month operation

Chandrapur: A full-grown tiger linked to a human kill and repeated sightings near villages in the buffer zone of the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve was on Thursday evening tranquilised and captured after an operation spanning two months.The tiger, identified as T-83 and estimated to be 8-10 years old, was involved in the death of 21-year-old cattle herder Karan Kisan Shedmake of Chek Nimbala village on March 16. Shedmake had taken a bull for grazing in a nearby field when the tiger attacked the animal. In an attempt to save the bull, Karan reportedly rushed towards the predator shouting, following which the tiger turned on him and killed him.Later, the tiger was frequently sighted near agricultural fields in Nimbala, Pahami, Peth and adjoining villages, triggering fear among residents. Acting on the growing concern, authorities of the reserve initiated steps to capture the animal in the latter half of March.The Rapid Response Team, led by Dr Ravikant Khobragade, tracked the tiger with the assistance of local field staff and finally cornered it near Pahami village in compartment No. 621 of the Peth-2 forest round. Sharp shooter Ajay Marathe darted the tiger around 6pm, after which it was caged and shifted to the transit treatment centre in Chandrapur.