Can UP’s “Sugarcane Tigress” Survive In Wild Or Is She A Pet Animal?

New Delhi: 

The Pilibhit tiger that created a spectacle as it was seen tamely sitting on a wall even as hundreds of people almost surrounded is probably one of the many “sugarcane tigers” seen in the Terai region. But is it a domesticated or a pet animal?

“These are called sugarcane tigers as these animals are now living in the tall sugarcane fields of the Pilibhit Terai region,” says Rajesh Gopal, former head of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Secretary General, Global Tiger Forum.

He says the animal that is now in the custody of the forest department seems like a “domesticated or a pet animal” that has escaped from the

The tiger reserves of Dudhwa and Pilibhit straddle the region. There has been one other instance when a pet tiger was quietly released into the wild by the owner into the forests of Dudhwa a decade ago.

Mr Gopal adds the tiger seems “conditioned to the presence of humans”, and this adds a layer of complication since if the animal is used to humans, releasing it into the wild may be dangerous as it may stray back into human habitation. It also endangers the animal since if it enters villages then it can be poisoned or stoned to death.

According to Mr Gopal, releasing the animal into the wild should be held back for now or if at all released then it should be radio-collared with a GPS tracking device to monitor its movements.

owner.