Tiger carrying nylon rope around neck for 113 days freed, Rs 50 lakh spent

Forest officials finally removed the nylon rope from the neck of a tiger that was roaming around with it for 113 days in the Kishanpur sanctuary area of Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, reported IANS. According to the forest department, around Rs 50 lakh has been spent to save the tiger.

Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) and field director of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Sanjay Kumar Pathak, told IANS that the tiger was first spotted with the rope on December 17 last year. 

The animal was tranquilised on Friday and the rope was removed. It was found healthy and fit during a medical examination and kept under observation for several hours.

Kumar said that during the investigation it was found that a person named Khushi Ram had laid a trap to catch the big cat. The tiger was then trapped in the net but managed to escape. Khushi Ram has been arrested by the police.

As per a report by Amar Ujala, a team of veterinarians from Dudhwa was appointed to save the tiger. Several trained elephants, Mahavats, fodder cutters and field workers were searching for the tiger day and night. 

About Rs 30 lakh were spent on the salaries of forest personnel while Rs 20 lakh were spent on vehicles, petrol and elephants.