Jharkhand Father-Daughter Duo Honored for Bravery in Tiger Rescue

On June 25, 2025, a Royal Bengal Tiger strayed into Purandar Mahto’s home in Mardu village, Muri police station area, Jharkhand, sparking panic at 4:30 AM. Mahto’s daughter, Sonika Kumari, a Class X student, and another girl deftly escaped the house, allowing Mahto to lock the tiger inside a room. He promptly alerted the Forest Department, enabling a Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) team, supported by Birsa Zoo experts, to tranquilize and cage the animal after a 13-hour operation. The healthy male tiger was released back into PTR the next day, averting human-wildlife conflict.

The Jharkhand Forest Department honored Mahto and Sonika on August 1, 2025, during the 76th Van Mahotsav in Ranchi, awarding them ₹1.20 lakh for their bravery and ₹21,000 for forest conservation efforts. Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato presented the cheques, joined by Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore. The event highlighted Jharkhand’s declining forest cover, now at 29.7% (23,721 sq km, per ISFR 2023), down from 45-55% in the 1960s, with Kishore urging tree planting to combat pollution.

PTR, established in 1973 under Project Tiger, spans 1,129.93 sq km, including Betla National Park, but its tiger population has dwindled from 71 in 1995 to six in January 2025, per camera traps. Human encroachment and a shrinking prey base, like the 68 gaurs recorded in 2023, exacerbate challenges. The state’s relocation of 35 villages, starting with Jaigir’s 160 residents, aims to reduce conflicts. This rescue underscores the critical role of community vigilance in preserving Jharkhand’s fragile wildlife ecosystem.

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