AP resumes Operation Stripes as Explorer approaches human habitation in Rajamahendravaram

Tiger Explorer calmed down in East Godavari on February 6. PHOTO FILE | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

Wildlife authorities in the state of Andhra Pradesh have resumed ‘Operation Stripes’ to tranquilize three-year-old tiger Explorer after he entered human habitations and roamed paddy fields near Undrajavaram in East Godavari district.

On Friday, the tiger was spotted moving through paddy fields on the outskirts of Pasalapudi village, nearly 30 km from Rajamahendravaram town.

East Godavari District Forest Officer B. Prabhakar Rao told The Hindu; “The tiger walked more than 30 kilometers across the plains in a single day, passing through many human settlements. However, no livestock kills have been reported in recent days.”

Operation

Mr. Prabhakar Rao said, “Experts from the Pune-based RESQ Trust, who had tranquilized the same tiger in Kurmapuram village of East Godavari district on February 6, are expected to reach the site on Saturday to tranquilize the tiger. Meanwhile, two teams of personnel are monitoring the tiger’s movement and alerting people in nearby villages.”

The first phase of Operation Stripes, led by the then Chief Conservator of Forest BNN Murthy, ended on February 14 after the tiger was reintroduced into the wild in Papikonda National Park. Since then, the tiger has been roaming along the banks of the Godavari and the hills of the Godavari region. As of December 2025, the tiger traveled across four states: Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

However, the tiger has not attacked any humans since it left its natural habitat – the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. It entered the Godavari Valley after crossing the Pranahitha River, a tributary of the Godavari River, before reaching the Papikonda National Park.

Published – 9 Oct 2026 20:22 IST