Mystery Tiger Eludes Telangana Forest Officials

A tiger that has been causing concern in Telangana villages and to forest officials for more than two months has been confirmed as not originating from the Tipeshwar sanctuary. Officials from Maharashtra's Melghat Tiger Reserve have verified that the tiger's image does not match their database. Investigations are ongoing with Chandrapur forest officials to determine if the tiger is from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. This young adult male tiger, estimated to be around five years old, has been tracked across multiple districts including Mancherial, Nirmal, and Siddipet. The animal has exclusively preyed on cattle, leading to significant fear among local farmers. It is currently believed to be moving in non-forest areas of Siddipet district.

A specialized committee, comprising members from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and wildlife non-governmental organizations, is actively monitoring the tiger's movements using advanced technology such as thermal imaging drones and camera traps, alongside traditional tracking methods like pugmarks. In response to numerous complaints regarding the tiger's depredations, authorities have intensified efforts to safely capture the animal. The tiger's continuous movement, predominantly in non-forest regions, has heightened the urgency of these capture operations.