Pugmarks being tracked in hunt for 'killer' panther

One of the 20 cameras installed to track the elusive panther that mauled to death two persons near Sariska has captured the image of a feline and its pugmarks are being tracked.
There are more than 100 panthers in the entire Sariska area in Alwar district and the Silipahadi area where the panther attack took place witnesses movement of around 10 panthers, officers said.
"A camera captured image of a panther last night and the pugmark are being tracked to trace down the panther," Alwar District collector Muktanand Agrawal said.
Forest officers are trying to ascertain if the pugmarks belong to the particular panther which killed two persons.

An official of the forest department said that ten teams comprising 120 members from the forest department and police equipped with weapons and equipments are on the hunt of the panther.
Professional snipers equipped with weapons and drone cameras have been deployed near water points and habitat areas to track down the panther.

A 36-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man were mauled to death by the panther on Sunday following which the forest department swung into action and shoot-at-sight order was issued.
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The chief conservator of forest and field director of
Sarsika Tiger Project, R S Shekhawat, said it was difficult to track the panther given its large habitat.

"The movement of panthers is high at night as compared to day and the area is quite large. Therefore, it is difficult to trace the panther. Efforts are on," he said.