Similipal jumbos Rajkumar, Mahendra to guard tigress ‘Sundari’ in Satkosia

Angul: Finally, the forest department has decided to deploy two Similipal elephants namely Rajkumar and Mahendra to guard the Royal Bengal tigress Sundari inside the Satkosia forest to guarantee safety and security of the villagers living nearby.

However, no decision has been taken yet in connection with Sundari’s release from the Raiguda enclosure, where it had been kept currently to prevent any untoward incident, informed PCCF (Wildlife), Sandip Tripathy to media.

While the forest officials were considering relocation of the elephant duo since past few months, it was being protested by locals in Similipal area. Some environmentalists had also challenged the decision by claiming that both Rajkumar and Mahendra are old and having low visibility.

The forest officials recently held a meeting with the villagers over the issue and sorted out the matter amicably to clear way for elephant relocation.

Sundari was brought from Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to Satkosia wildlife sanctuary on June 28 to increase tiger population in the state later turned into man eater. Residents from the villages located near Satkosia demanded shifting of the tigress after it attacked two locals including a woman from Tainsi village at a later stage. The tiger also attacked a journalist who was trying to collect news in Satkosia area during the same period.