Camera trap image of a tiger approaching the kill at night. | Photo credit: By arrangement
The tiger, which strayed into the non-forest areas of Telangana and is currently roaming the Yadadri-Siddipet-Janagam district junction, has killed eight animals in three weeks. The latest killing took place in Alair Mandal village of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.
All the animals killed were cattle, which is why the villagers are demanding that the authorities capture the tiger immediately.
Normally, a tiger hunts at most once a week and sometimes when the animal is of a large size like the Sambar deer, the gap extends to 10 days or more. But in this case, the subadult tiger is forced to make repeated kills because it is deprived of abundant food, experts say.
First, it was the forest officials who burnt the carcass of the slain as soon as they found it, fearing that the villagers might poison the meat to kill the tiger. Later, it is the villagers who throng near the carcass to catch a glimpse of the tiger, sources said.
The forest department officials are unable to communicate effectively with the villagers as the latter are agitated by the former’s inaction. “As far as the tiger is concerned, we cannot act independently. Everything needs to be done only in consultation with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Even if we have to tranquilize the animal and shift it to a safer place, we have to do so only after a nod from the top tiger authority,” says the official on condition of anonymity.
A special committee has been constituted to monitor the movement of the tiger and take decisions regarding the course of action to be taken by the forest department.
The committee includes members from NTCA and the Wildlife Institute of India, besides two representatives from NGOs working in wildlife conservation and rescue/rehabilitation. It will meet at least twice a week to review developments and take appropriate decisions based on the evolving situation on the ground.
In a review meeting with forest officials, NTCA member Harini Venugopal was informed about the movement of the tiger since it entered Telangana from Pandavkhara division of Tipeshwar reserve two weeks ago.
The animal, for reasons still unclear, stayed for more than two weeks in the core area of the Kawal Tiger Reserve before setting out on its journey. Field assessments led to the assumption that the tiger may have moved from Kawal in search of territory or a potential mate. While the two tigresses had already stayed in Kawal for almost a year or more, their territories were far from the male’s path, officials say.
Published – 04 Feb 2026 21:06 IST
