The condition of a tiger rescued from a deer-hunting trap in the Sundarbans is gradually improving, forest officials said Wednesday.
Two days after being freed, the tiger is receiving treatment at the Khulna Rescue Center, where it has begun taking food and water and is gradually returning to normal behavior, indicating improvement in its physical condition.
Although the tiger sustained an injury to its front left leg, no bones were broken, raising hopes of a full recovery. Once the wound heals, the animal is expected to be released back into the Sundarbans within a short period.
Khulna Regional Conservator of Forests Imran Ahmed shared the update in a press release.
According to the Forest Department, the injured tiger was rescued on January 4 from the Chandpai Range under the Sundarbans East Forest Division and was later taken to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Khulna for treatment. Initially extremely weak, the tiger has since responded to treatment and begun showing signs of natural agility and wild instincts.
The tiger is being treated under the close supervision of Forest Department Veterinary Officer Hatem Sajjad Julkarnain. Although its condition has improved, officials said it is not yet completely out of danger.
Given the nature of the injury, a team of specialist veterinarians led by Professor Dr. Hadi Nur Ali Khan of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Bangladesh Agricultural University arrived in Khulna from Dhaka late Tuesday night and conducted a preliminary examination. A detailed assessment was carried out Wednesday morning.
The specialists observed that the front left leg was injured after being caught in the trap, but based on the tiger’s movement, they believe no bones were fractured, which they described as encouraging. They expressed hope that the tiger would recover fully and be able to return to the forest soon.
Officials cautioned that close human presence could increase the risk of infection as the wound continues to heal. As the tiger is a completely wild animal with no prior human contact, maintaining a safe distance is essential for its recovery.
Other members of the specialist team include Professor Dr. Golam Haider of Gazipur Agricultural University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science; Dr. Golam Azam Chowdhury, principal scientific officer of the Central Disease Investigation Laboratory (CDIL), Dhaka; and Dr. Nazmul Huda, additional veterinary officer at the Central Veterinary Hospital, Dhaka.
Forest officials said they first received information on the afternoon of January 3 that a tiger had been trapped in a deer snare near Joymonir Sharkir Khal in the Chandpai Range. A specialist team arrived at the site the following afternoon, tranquilized the animal, freed it from the trap, and transported it to the Khulna Rescue Center later that night.
