Bahraich, January 19
A decision of the Forest Department to shift a healthy rescued tiger to Gorakhpur Zoo instead of releasing it back into the wild has drawn sharp criticism from wildlife lovers and experts, who have termed the move unfair and against conservation principles.
After a three-day rescue operation, the adult tiger that strayed into Rehuwa Mansoor village under Ramgaon police station in Mahsi tehsil was successfully tranquilized on Saturday evening by a team of forest personnel, veterinarians and trained elephants from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR). The tiger was brought to the Divisional Forest office, where a medical examination confirmed that it was completely healthy, with intact canines and claws and capable of hunting.
Despite this, the tiger was sent to Gorakhpur Zoo on Sunday following orders from Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttar Pradesh Anuradha Vemuri. Vemuri said the rescued big cat was a ‘Sugarcane Tiger’ so it was being sent to Gorakhpur zoo. (A “sugarcane tiger” is a term commonly used for a wild tiger that strays out of forest areas and takes shelter in sugarcane fields near villages or farmlands). A forest range officer in Bahraich also confirmed that the tiger was being shifted to Gorakhpur zoo on the orders of higher authorities.
The decision has triggered strong resentment among wildlife enthusiasts and conservation experts. Former wildlife warden Allahabad (now Prayagraj) V.K. Singh said that since the tiger had neither attacked nor injured anyone and was fit to survive in the wild, it should have been released back into its natural habitat in Katarniaghat or Dudhwa National Park. He noted that tigers frequently stray into dense bushes or sugarcane fields, mistaking them for grassland extensions of their territory.
Former Katarniaghat DFO Gyan Prakash Singh highlighted that a healthy tiger plays a vital role in sustaining wild populations and plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. He and stressed the need of thorough assessment for relocation decision. Singh suggested the tiger likely sneaked from the Motipur range of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
Veterinarian Dr. Deepak Verma, who examined the tiger, confirmed that it was a fully grown and fit adult with intact canines and claws, capable of hunting effectively. He said the animal had recently hunted and dragged a bull weighing around 4 to 5 quintals, which clearly proved its strength and hunting ability.
Bhagwan Das Lakhmani, president of the Katarniaghat Friends Club, called the department’s decision unfortunate and wrong. He said that the tiger had not caused any incident. He said that tigers and other wild animals often wander into sugarcane fields or dense bushes during fog, mistaking them for forest areas, and this alone is no ground to confine them in a zoo. Lakhmani termed the move as injustice with the big cat.
Wildlife groups have now demanded a review of the decision and urged authorities to prioritize rehabilitation of healthy wild animals in their natural habitat instead of confining them to zoos. A senior forest officer also termed the decision against the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
Under India’s wildlife management protocols (guided by the NTCA), healthy straying tigers without conflict history are typically evaluated for safe release into suitable habitats to maintain genetic diversity and ecological balance. Critics argue this case met those criteria, making zoo confinement unnecessary.