World-renowned expert on tigers John Seidensticker is worried for Orissa's injured tigress. Seidensticker is chairman of the Save Tiger Fund Council, an international organisation working for wellbeing of the big cats. A billion dollar question is haunting his mind: Will the tigress be able to walk and run again?

Not only Seidensticker but also wildlife lovers in and outside the country are concerned for the wounded Royal Bengal tigress, which was saved from the Purunakot jungle of the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary on April 1 and is still limping. She is dragging her feet as her hind right leg is yet to recover from the pellet injury received on March 31.

The six-year-old tigress, after being rescued by the anti-poaching squads of the sanctuary from inside the Purankot jungle, was sent to Nandankanan Zoological Park. Senior veterinary surgeons of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and Nandankanan took care of the tigress. But she is still limping after 54 days of the injury. The ill-fated tigress has been taken out from the cage and released in a bigger enclosure by the zoo authorities. Her state of health does not sound good for the wildlife enthusiasts.

According to vet experts, the tigress is suffering from neurological disorder. And if the neurological malfunction continues after 45 days of the injury, it may like to spell doom for her. However, Nandankanan Director Ajit Patnaik is in constant touch with the international veterinarians, sources said. Suzan Murray, principal veterinarian of National Zoologial Park of Washington DC, is being briefed over the developments.

Seidensticker, expressing concern over the health of the tigress, has asked his principal veterinarian to be in touch with the Nandankanan Zoo authorities, said sources said.