An adult male tiger, named ‘Explorer’, in a playful mood at Papikonda National Park in Polavaram district. The tiger was released to the PNP. File Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
The Andhra Pradesh State Government has set the stage to welcome two female tigers from the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, supporting the thriving tiger population in the Papikonda National Park (PNP) in the Godavari Valley of Andhra Pradesh.
On February 14, an adult male tiger named ‘Explorer’ was reintroduced into the wild in the Godavari landscape of Papikonda National Park (PNP) in Andhra Pradesh as part of Operation Stripes, eight days after he was euthanized in Kurmapuram village of East Godavari district.
The explorer has accepted a PNP landscape in which he has access to abundant loot. It is now in the process of forming its territory. He is very healthy, given his movements, according to officials.
Chief Conservator of Forest, Rajahmundry Wildlife Division S. Srikantakantha Reddy told The Hindu on Tuesday (February 24); “Deputy Chief Minister and Forest Minister K. Pawan Kalyan requested the state governments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for two female tigers from their lands. Both states agreed to the appeal.”
One female tiger from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharasthra) will be selected for relocation to the PNP, from where the male tiger Explorer walked more than 650 kilometers before being euthanized in East Godavari district.
“The selection of the two female tigers is left to our department. One will be from the Tadoba landscape and the other preferably from the state of Madhya Pradesh,” Mr. Reddy added. He claimed that the two female tigers would most likely be “airlifted” from their native landscape to avoid relocation issues. “The two female tigers are expected to be brought to the PNP anytime, given our state of readiness,” Mr. Reddy added.
“A male tiger, Explorer, is looking for a female tiger. The population will thrive in the PNP, where 39 deer have been introduced as part of ‘explorer prey augmentation,'” Mr Reddy said.
Published – 25 Feb 2026 06:29 IST
