Tue Jan 07 13:54:04 UTC 2025: ## Bengal on High Alert After Fresh Tiger Sightings
**Kolkata, January 7, 2025** – Fresh tiger pug marks and sightings in West Bengal’s Sundarbans and Purulia regions have sparked panic among residents, just days after the capture and repatriation of tigress Zeenat, who had roamed the state for over two weeks.
Multiple pug marks discovered Monday morning near human settlements in the Baikunthapur area of South 24 Parganas have prompted a heightened alert by forest officials. Similar tracks were reported in Purulia, leading to increased patrols and public announcements urging villagers to avoid the forests. While the tiger is suspected to have originated from Jharkhand, it hasn’t yet been captured on camera.
Forest officials have cordoned off parts of the mangrove forests to restrict the tiger’s movement. A local resident expressed fear over the proximity of the tiger to homes, stating that houses are less than 50 meters from the forest edge. Mrityunjay Biswas, Deputy Ranger of Sundarban Tiger Reserve, confirmed the tiger escaped through nylon fencing and that teams are working to return the animal to the jungle.
The incident comes as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee voiced her displeasure over Zeenat’s return to Odisha, suggesting that Odisha should handle its own stray tigers. Banerjee expressed concern about another tiger’s presence in the state, stating that Bengal has the capacity to house any stray tigers from neighboring states.
First Piper 