Jaipur: Forest authorities on Saturday discussed the fate of the subadult tigress Kankati, tranquillised and caged in an enclosure in Bheed region of Ranthambore National Park (RNP) last week after it killed two people.“We had to be certain that the right animal was captured to avoid any injustice. After thoroughly examining photographic evidence, it was confirmed that the tigress responsible for the attacks was indeed Kankati,” said an official.Kankati, a cub of the well-known tigress Arrowhead, may be relocated, a source said.“It was proposed to shift the tigress either to the 80-hectare enclosure at Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) or to one of the biological parks. The possibility of relocating her to Sariska Tiger Reserve was ruled out, as its own tigers are already dispersing beyond the reserve,” the source added.The forest department is also deliberating on the future of Kankati’s two male siblings, who have not been involved in any human conflict so far. However, concerns have been raised due to their rearing in the same environment, where live bait was used to feed them.“There is no available territory for these male cubs in RNP, and conflicts are increasing. A proposal has been floated to shift them to MHTR as well. The decision is awaited,” an official said.Sources noted that the department should not keep the tigress in the enclosure for long, as it lies within the natural corridor between Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary and Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. In the past, conflicts arose when T-104, an aggressive male tiger, was kept in the same enclosure. “Wild tigers clashed with the caged T-104, leading to aggression from both sides,” a source said.Keeping a tiger in an enclosure within the core reserve area for an extended period is impractical, as it requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Experts suggest relocating the tigress to a biological park in Jaipur or Udaipur instead.
