In a rare and exhilarating development for wildlife observers in Sikkim, a Royal Bengal tiger cub was reportedly sighted in the forests of Chongay, under the Shyari constituency, just 8 km from Gangtok. The unexpected sighting occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a school student, returning home, came face-to-face with the young tiger near the forest edge.

Showing remarkable presence of mind, the student quickly photographed the cub and shared the image with his father, who immediately informed local authorities. Responding to the alert, area MLA and Forest Department Advisor Tenzing Norbu Lamtha rushed to the spot along with a team of Forest officials to assess the situation.

However, by the time the rescue and verification team reached the site, the cub had already retreated deeper into the forest. A follow-up search operation was conducted on Wednesday to trace the animal and reaffirm its presence, but officials were unable to spot the cub again.

The sighting has generated considerable buzz among forest authorities, given that tiger encounters in this part of Sikkim are exceptionally uncommon. Officials are now evaluating whether the cub may be part of a transient movement or indicative of a broader wildlife presence in the region.

Forest teams are expected to continue monitoring the area for further signs of the cub or its mother, while urging residents to remain cautious and report any additional sightings.