A tiger which is usually found at 3000-4000 feet height has been spotted at these upper ranges where the temperature is not seen as ideal for them. The big cat was seen in a picture shot from a camera fixed in Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in March this year, Divisional Forest Officer (Pithoragarh) IP Singh informed.

He later added, “Usually, it is other varieties of big cats, like snow leopards, you find at altitudes above 12,000 feet”.

According to scientists tiger sighting at 12,000-ft height indicates an effect of global warming.

DP Dobhal of Dehradun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology said the tiger-spotting meant “the animal found it warm at an elevation of 12,000 feet. It’s not healthy news”. “Now more animals may scale up. That will pose threat to other animals of the upper Himalayas”.

While another wildlife expert expressed concern on conserving tigers, “Already, we are struggling to conserve tigers in their known territories,” to monitor such big cats at such high altitude will pose another set of challenges.