KAZIRANGA, July 18 – The people of Kaliabor, in Assam were both surprised and alarmed when  a tigress walked into a house and settled herself on a bed and took a nap. The flooding of KNP has once again displaced animals and sent them towards the populated areas.

 A female Royal Bengal tiger strayed out of flood-ravaged Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve around 7 am (Thursday)  to catch some sleep at the house of one Motilal near the forest under Bagori range.

The tigress literally slept on Motilal’s bed with the comfort of a pillow, too, and went off forest-bound again as the sun was setting.

Forest personnel said the tigress was perhaps very exhausted after crossing the flooded national park and so she took a full day’s rest. Being nocturnal, she set off on her way with the setting of the sun.

The villagers were prompt not to panic, but to inform the authorities immediately. They Also did not attempt to disturb the sleeping tigress.

On receiving the information, Kaziranga park authority, police, BSF, CRPF and civil administration of Kaliabor took necessary measures to ensure that no harm is done to the Royal Bengal tiger. They also ensured safety of the people who had gathered in large numbers to have a glimpse of the big ‘sleeping beauty’.

The authority and veterinary units decided to wait till the dusk as it would help the tigress to move out by itself. They decided against tranquillizing the animal as it would have been risky given the location of the big cat where it was sleeping (on a bed) inside a small room.

Security forces also took position to ensure that there was no law and order problem in the area. As the dusk was setting in, the tigress majestically went out of Motilal’s house by itself towards the forest. Authorities stopped traffic on the NH-37 near the area to ensure that the tigress could move out comfortably.