Tipeshwar Tiger cub TPWL-T2 C3, of age about 10-11 months, who was found heavily infested with porcupine quills, was freed of all quills after immobilization on the evening of December 28. A veterinary team consisting of Chetan Patond and Mayur Kate carried out the operation under the supervision of Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve and DFO WL Pandharkawda. The cub, after monitoring for about 24 hours, was finally released into the wild on December 29.
Out of the 3 cubs of female TPWL T2, two male cubs were found moving together since last few weeks. Recently, during the hunting attempt, both the cubs received quills on their body. Since this was a natural thing, management decided not to intervene unnecessarily and allow the quills to fall naturally as it generally happens in wild.
The cub T2-C2 managed to remove all the quills, and T2-C3 also managed to remove almost all of the quills. However field observations on December 28, indicated that cub C3 needs further interventions as he was found weak and was unable to move. Accordingly, with the permission of CWLW, Maharashtra, C3 was immobilized and a couple of quills remaining in the body were removed and further treatment was done.
A committee as per the SOP of NTCA was constituted under the chairmanship of DFO Pandharkawda WL, Subhash Puranik with Ramzan Virani HWLW Yavatmal,(NTCA rep) Subodh Kalbande , Nisarg Mitra manch (CWLW Rep), Sharukh Barkat khan of Sunna village and Chetan Patond and Mayur Kate as the committee members.
As per the committee’s recommendation, the cub was released in the wild on the evening of December 29. He will be monitored closely for few days.
