A mobile clip of the tigress chasing the gypsies reportedly recorded by a nature guide has gone viral on social media. The big cat can be seen moving close to the Gypsies on the track at a tri-junction before chasing them.
Though she did not attack people on board the vehicles, there was a moment of panic among them. “Both the drivers reversed after seeing the charging tigress. Fortunately, as there were no other vehicles on both the tracks, they could reverse in speed,” said a forest official.
He said, “As a precautionary measure, the route has been closed for tourists again till further orders. We have also installed cameras at many places in the zone for continuous monitoring of the tigress.” Experts claim chasing vehicles could be a part of the natural instinct of the tigress, but it has never attacked any human till date.
Dharmendra Khandal, conservation biologist of Tiger Watch said, “The tigress lives in Zone-1 and its movement is recorded near the human settlements including Ganesh Temple road and Jhoomar Baori. It has never charged at anyone. Some big cats do chase vehicles. Earlier, when tourist activities were less at Ranthambore, there was a tigress named Nasty, which regularly charged vehicles.”
This is the third time Sultana has reportedly charged a vehicle. On November 25, a forest staff had a close shave during patrolling when she chased his motorcycle in Zone-1.
In a video that went viral in 2019, Sultana came dangerously close to tourists before sprinting alongside their vehicle. The 26-second clip was purportedly shot by tourists.
