PILIBHIT — In an unprecedented move prompted by escalating human-wildlife conflict, Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW), Anuradha Vemuri, has ordered the sedation of three tigers believed to be behind the deaths of five villagers—two of them women—within a single month. This is the first time such an extensive sedation directive has been issued in the region. So far, one tigress has been captured, while the search continues for the remaining two big cats.
Officials stated that any tiger found injured would be relocated to a zoo for care, while uninjured ones would be released into forested areas, as determined by the CWLW. Traditionally, tranquilisation is considered only when a tiger is wounded and unable to hunt natural prey, often turning to easier human targets. However, repeated fatal attacks and mounting fear among villagers have pushed authorities to adopt a more proactive approach.
The most recent attack occurred on June 10, when a 33-year-old farmer was killed by a tigress in Mewatpur village while working in his sugarcane field. The following day, the CWLW granted Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) officials permission to tranquilise the animal.
This followed earlier approvals in May: one on May 19, for a tigress suspected of killing two farmers—on May 13 in Nazirganj village and May 18 in Haripur Kishanpur—and another on June 3, for a male tiger that mauled a 40-year-old woman in Shanti Nagar village.
One of the tigresses linked to the May incidents was successfully tranquilised on May 26 near Haripur Kishanpur after an extensive search involving forest departments from Pilibhit, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, and Lakhimpur Kheri. She was released two days later into the Mahof forest range of PTR. The remaining two tigers, including the one responsible for the latest attack in Mewatpur, are yet to be located.
Tracking efforts in Mewatpur have been hampered by resistance from locals, who opposed the use of elephants in search operations due to concerns about crop damage. Despite assurances of prompt compensation, villagers remain unconvinced, said PTR Divisional Forest Officer Manish Singh. He also noted that thermal drone cameras used in the search have a battery life of just 30 minutes, further complicating operations.
Interestingly, forest officials believe the Mewatpur tigress may be the same animal recently released in Haripur Kishanpur, citing similar age, behaviour, and a shared preference for water bodies. “We’ve observed her lingering near canals, much like the other tigress,” said DFO Singh. “But we can confirm if it’s the same animal only after capturing a camera trap image.”
As fears grow that the tigress may move between nearby villages via dense sugarcane corridors, authorities have ramped up awareness campaigns. The Wildlife Trust of India and PTR’s mobile awareness unit, ‘Bagh Express’, are issuing safety advisories and operating public alert systems to warn residents in at-risk areas.
Meanwhile, the male tiger believed responsible for the June 3 Shanti Nagar attack remains active. His pugmarks were last seen within a 2-km radius of the village, and combing operations continue across the area.
With human lives at stake and community tension rising, forest officials face a race against time to ensure both public safety and the welfare of the region’s endangered tigers.
