UP: Tiger captured near Sitapur’s Narni village after spreading panic

Forest officials have successfully tranquilized and captured a ferocious tiger in the Maholi region of Sitapur, just 300 meters from Narni village, officials confirmed on Monday.

The tiger had been roaming dangerously close to human settlements, spreading panic across the area. On August 22, it had reportedly attacked and killed a local youth, intensifying fears among villagers.

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Locals believe this is the same man-eating tiger responsible for the fatal attack, though forest officials have not confirmed this yet. With this latest capture, a total of two tigers and one tigress have been caught in 2025. However, villagers claim that two cubs are still wandering in the region, keeping the threat alive.

District Forest Officer (DFO) Naveen Khandelwal stated that surveillance in the area is ongoing. Maholi shares a border with the dense forests of Pilibhit, and tigers frequently stray from the jungle into human-inhabited zones, triggering repeated concerns for public safety.

Over the past few months, tiger sightings have become increasingly common in the area. The attack on the youth in August led to growing anger among villagers, who accused the forest department of negligence. Following reports of tiger movements, the department finally swung into action.

A specialized team led by Dr. Dayashankar from Dudhwa National Park was called in to assist. The team set up a watch post (machan) about 300 meters from Narni village, close to a command center. A trap was laid using a live bait animal to lure the tiger. As the tiger approached the bait during the evening on Sunday, the experts used a tranquilizer gun to sedate it.

Soon after being tranquilized, the tiger was captured and placed in a cage. Villagers gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the captured animal. When the tiger regained consciousness, it growled ferociously but was helpless inside the cage. The forest department later transported it to Elysiya Park.

According to DFO Khandelwal, the captured tiger is approximately 6 years old and weighs around 220 kg. About 20 days ago, a tigress was captured from the same area, and on May 26, another tiger was caught nearly 40 km from Narni.

The captured tiger is likely to be sent to the Gorakhpur Zoo, where the previously captured tigress from the same area has already been relocated. However, DFO Khandelwal clarified that a final decision will be made only after approval from the Wildlife Department and other relevant authorities.

Despite the recent capture, fear persists in Narni village. Residents assert that two tiger cubs are still loose in the area. DFO Khandelwal reassured the public that monitoring efforts will continue until the situation is fully under control.