Keonjhar: Forest officials have released the photograph of a Royal Bengal Tiger highlighting the presence of the species at the Atei reserve forest under Ghatagaon range and Keonjhar division. There had been speculation about the presence of a tiger and six leopards in Keonjhar division, but there had been no proof to substantiate it. Now with the photograph, the presence of the tiger in Atei forest has been established.
Officials said Tuesday that the tiger census results that will be available in January will confirm the exact number of big cats in the forest. They added that a number of other animals including deer, porcupines, jackals, and wild boars have made the forest their home. These animals were caught on the trap cameras installed for the tiger census. Earlier Forest department officials had informed about the presence of a Royal Bengal Tiger. They had been trying to track the movement of the animal. The roads passing through the Atei forest had been sealed to protect the tiger, officials said.