Search continues for Sariska tiger in Haryana’s Rewari

A three-year-old tiger has strayed from the Sariska Tiger Reserve in India and is currently hiding in mustard fields in a Haryana village. Wildlife officials have set up trap cameras and deployed teams to rescue the tiger. Precautionary measures have been given to residents in case they spot the tiger.

Updated on: Jan 21, 2024, 06:04:18 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The three-year-old tiger that strayed from the Sariska Tiger Reserve into a Haryana village on Thursday is still hiding in the mustard fields in Nikhri village of Rewari, wildlife officials said on Saturday, adding that they have set up at least six trap cameras to find the big cat.

More teams from the wildlife and forest departments, and police officers have been deployed within a radius of five kilometres from the village to ensure the rescue of the male tiger, dubbed T2303. (HT Photo)

They added that more teams from the wildlife and forest departments, and police officers have been deployed within a radius of five kilometres from the village to ensure the rescue of the male tiger, dubbed T2303.

“We have requested residents not to enter their fields before 7am and after 5pm until the tiger is rescued. We have placed camera traps on Saturday around the field and village where the tiger is believed to be prowling for nearly two days. Our teams have found pug marks around the fields at six spots, but we have not sighted the tiger yet,” said MS Malik, Haryana’s chief conservator of forests (wildlife).

Teams from forest and wildlife departments of Haryana and Rajasthan are waiting in the area prepared with tranquiliser darts. Officials said that they have set up four live baits to lure the tiger.

Malik said they have been receiving information for the last two days from villagers working in the fields that they have spotted a tiger at various locations, but no image has been captured yet. “Our teams are patrolling and have set up lights also at suspected locations,” he said.

Deepak Saharan, superintendent of police of Rewari, said they have deployed additional personnel for the safety of rescue team members and local residents. “We have asked locals not to move alone towards the field, but due to the mustard season, they cannot leave the fields unattended. Villagers are in panic and scared to step out,” he said.

The locals have stopped letting their children step out of the house. The tiger had attacked a 74-year-old villager on Thursday, but he suffered only minor injuries.

Malik said that they have told residents what precautionary measures to take if they spot the tiger. “It is important to know the precautionary measures and act wisely in such instances. Also, we have asked them to alert the police or wildlife officials immediately if they see the tiger,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More