In the biggest operation launched in Uttarakhand in recent days to kill a man-eater, six-year-old tigress, who had killed two villagers and had injured five in Ramnagar villages, was shot dead on Thursday afternoon, according to the reports.

Chief Wildlife Warden Digvijay Singh Khati said, “Initially we though a leopard had killed them. Soon after it was found that a tigress had killed the two villagers, an order was issued to kill the man-eater.”

Reports said that over 150 workers of the Forest Department, including five professional shooters, were put on the job. Camera traps, cages were set and two drones was also deployed to spot the tigress.

Reports added that a chopper was deployed for a short period of time to tranquilize her and elephants and hunting dogs were also used, which didn’t procured any result. Although the tigress was spotted a few times but she would always have to manage to escape.

The operation leader, Conservator of Forests (western circle) Parag Dhakate said, “Our teams tried to tranquilise the tigress. Eight cages were set up at different locations in the 10-sq km area in Ramnagar, which is South of the Corbett National Park, where the tigress moved, but all attempts to tranquilise and rescue her failed. We had to finally shoot her.”

Prajakt