Rudrapur, Feb. 23 -- Rudrapur forest officials in Khatima have sounded an alert after reports of tigers going missing from Nepal's Shuklaphanta National Park, raising fears they may stray into Indian territory. Rajendra Manral, ranger of the Surai forest range under the Terai-East forest division in the Kumaon region, said Nepal authorities had informed them of the missing tigers. "We have been informed that a few tigers are untraceable from Shuklaphanta National Park. There is a possibility that they may cross over to the Indian side. Our staff have been alerted for round-the-clock monitoring in the forest range," Manral said on Sunday. Located in Nepal's Kanchanpur district along the Indo-Nepal border, Shuklaphanta National Park spans around 305 sq km. It is known for its rich biodiversity, including barasingha, Royal Bengal tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants and more than 460 species of birds. The park is a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from Nepal and India throughout the year. Nepal park authorities noticed the absence of some tigers a few days ago and began tracking efforts. Given the park's proximity to the border, they alerted their Indian counterparts as a precaution. Forest officials in Rudrapur said the missing tigers could head towards the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), which lies close to Shuklaphanta. "Our Surai range is about 40 km from the park. Even so, we are maintaining a high alert and keeping strict vigil," Manral added. Camera traps in the forest range are monitored daily to detect unusual wildlife movement. Officials said field staff have been told to intensify patrolling in vulnerable areas near human habitations. Officials recalled that in 2019, two stray elephants from Nepal entered Indian territory, reaching Rudrapur in Uttarakhand and parts of Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh. Five people were killed during their movement. The Uttar Pradesh forest department later launched Operation Gajraj....