PUNE: The orphaned cubs (male and female) of T1, popularly known as Avni, are likely to be released in the wild once the female cub becomes two years old. Currently, the female cub is living in the Pench Tiger Reserve, Nagpur, while the male cub is in the wilds of Pandharkawada. 

The mother was shot dead after being accused of being a man-eater. The search deployed 200 hunters  and even Calvin Klein fragrance to lure the big cat. The cubs were especially monitored since their mother had become a man-eater. The forest officials had said that their proximity with their mother might play a role in making them man-eaters. 

A tiger cub lives in foster care until they attain the age of two. “At present, T1C2 (the official name of the female cub) is around 19 months old. We have been continuously monitoring her with the help of closed circuit TV camera (CCTV) and a decision to release her in the wild will likely take place in December once she completes two years of age. This decision will be taken by Forest Department of Maharashtra, Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority,” said Sunil Limaye, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) West.

Limaye said, “We will discuss and take a call on the place and time. She will be released with a radio caller (GPS device) fitted onto her so that she can be monitored.” 

Tigress Avni or T1 as she was officially called, was shot dead on November 2, 2018, near Yavatmal. She was survived by two ten months old cubs. Limaye informed that male cub T1C1 (official name) was in the wilds of Pandharkawada. He said, “T1C1 is in the wilds of Pandharkawada and is surviving properly. His movements were recorded till August in the camera traps put by us. However, in monsoon, we have removed the camera traps, which will be installed again in November.” 

The female cub of Avni is living as a soft captive in Pench Tiger Reserve since December 2018. She is healthy. Limaye said, “Initially, when she was brought, she was not reacting for first few weeks. However, now she is healthy and has started hunting animals like sambhar, antelope and deer and surviving well. The action is also being monitored by us with the help of CCTV camera.”