Gangtok: A Royal Bengal tiger cub was reportedly spotted in the forests of Chongay, under the Shyari constituency, around 8 km from Gangtok town, Sikkim. The sighting occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a student returning home from school unexpectedly encountered the young cub near the forest edge.
Reacting swiftly, the student photographed the cub and immediately shared the image with his father, who then alerted local authorities. Area MLA-cum-Advisor, Forest department, Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, promptly arrived at the site along with Forest officials to conduct a rescue assessment. However, by the time the team reached the forest area, the cub had already slipped deeper into the undergrowth.
Efforts were also made to trace the cub and further confirm its presence on Wednesday but the cub could not be sighted.
In response to the new sighting, Forest authorities have initiated an immediate investigation. However, top forest officials of the State have claimed that none of their camera traps have captured a Royal Bengal tiger or a cub in the region, this season.
The sighting took place within the Eastern Himalayan Subtropical Broadleaf Forest, a rich, moist ecosystem dominated by oak, bamboo, and evergreen vegetation. This habitat is known for its abundant prey base, making it suitable for supporting apex predators such as the Royal Bengal tiger.
According to local accounts, the tiger cub appeared healthy, curious, and alert. Witnesses reported that it briefly observed the passerby before disappearing into the dense vegetation. The encounter has sparked widespread excitement among residents and wildlife officials, particularly given the rarity of tiger sightings in this part of Sikkim.
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This incident marks the most recent tiger sighting in Sikkim, following the documented presence of a Royal Bengal tiger in May 2024, when camera traps captured photographs of an adult tiger in a reserve forest, approximately 25 km from Gangtok. That earlier discovery had prompted discussions about potential tiger movement corridors and the possibility of expanding habitats across Sikkim’s eastern ranges.
The presence of a cub also suggests that a female tiger may be nearby – a promising indicator of possible breeding activity, which would be a significant milestone for conservation efforts in the region.
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