Ageing tiger released back to the jungle after rehabilitation program

An aging tiger was released into the forest in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Uthai Thani province on Sunday night, after had undergone treatment and rehabilitation for three months at a wildlife breeding station in the sanctuary.

According to Chayaporn Armradit, director of the 12th Conservation Area Management Office, the 16-year-old female tiger, tagged ‘HKT236F’, was captured on February 25 after she strayed out of her habitat in the forest in Pang Sila Thong district of Kamphaeng Phet province. She was, eventually, released into the wild in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.

On March 10, however, the same tiger was sighted in Ban Pang Sak, Mae Pern district of Nakhon Sawan, triggering panic among villagers that the big cat might harm their livestock.

Park officials managed to capture her again and sent her to the wildlife breeding station for treatment and the three months of rehabilitation, during which her weight increased from 95kg to 119kg.

After having assessed the cat’s overall condition, park officials felt that the tiger was strong enough to survive in the wild, so they released her back into the jungle, with a monitoring collar attached.