Khulna: The injured tigress, rescued from the Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans East Forest Division on January 4, has been showing gradual improvement. Veterinarians treating the tigress at the Forest Department's Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Khulna have indicated that it may take up to two months for the animal to fully recover.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, initial signs of improvement have been promising as the female tiger, who was initially extremely weak, has started drinking water and consuming small amounts of food over the past two days. Notably, the tigress roared loudly in the morning, displaying aggressive behavior upon seeing people, which veterinarians interpret as an indication of her returning wild instincts.
Forest officials reported that the tigress had been trapped in a snare, which severely damaged the veins and nerves of her front left leg, temporarily obstructing blood circulation. Although blood flow has now returned, the nerves and sub-veins will require time to heal. Due to her advanced age, the tigress has also lost some natural strength, making her recovery slower.
Updates on the tigress's condition were shared during a press conference at the Khulna Press Club. Speakers at the event urged the government to establish a fully equipped veterinary hospital near the Sundarbans. They called for the presence of at least two wildlife veterinarians and support staff, as well as a water ambulance to ensure rapid transport of injured animals.
Khulna Regional Conservator of Forests (CoF) Imran Ahmed noted that the tigress's condition has been steadily improving under the close supervision of Forest Department Veterinary Officer Hatem Sazzad Zulkarnaine. However, a specialist veterinary team led by Professor Dr. Hadi Noor Ali Khan from Bangladesh Agricultural University was brought in from Dhaka to conduct further assessments, as the animal remains at risk.
The expert team observed that while the tigress's left foreleg was injured, there were no signs of bone fractures, which they found encouraging. Nonetheless, officials cautioned that excessive human presence could increase the risk of infection as the wound heals.
Additional Veterinary Officer of Dhaka Central Veterinary Hospital Dr. Nazmul Huda highlighted the tigress's three major issues: pain and nerve damage in the left foreleg affecting her hunting ability, dehydration-now improving as she has resumed drinking water-and age-related weakness. Professor Dr. Hadi Noor Ali Khan added that the tigress had not eaten or drunk water for two to three days after being trapped and is now being given small portions of meat mixed with medicine.
Emphasizing that the tigress is not accustomed to human presence, he noted, "This is not a zoo tiger. She reacts aggressively to human presence. Today we heard her fierce roar." The animal is being treated in isolation to minimize stress, and video and photography have been strictly prohibited to ensure a conducive recovery environment. Full recovery is anticipated to take anywhere between two weeks and two months, depending on the healing progress.