Maharastra tiger Explorer returns to East Godavari again

An adult tiger, a scout, rests in a forest near Korukonda in East Godavari district on Friday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The adult male tiger, Explorer, which entered Andhra Pradesh earlier from the Tadoba forests of Maharashtra after covering parts of Telangana earlier this year, seems to have adapted to the Godavari landscape.

Tranquilized at Kurmapuram village in East Godavari district on February 6, the tiger was released in Papikonda National Park on February 14 on the instructions of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

He again returned to the East Godavari district by crossing the Godavari river in search of streams and booty. However, it has never attacked a human since it left its native land of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra in December 2025.

Since February 14, the tiger has twice returned to East Godavari district by crossing the Godavari river.

“The tiger was walking along the water bodies without confining itself to any particular place, making it difficult to calm down. Since April 22 night, it has been roaming in the hilly areas adjacent to Munagala village in Korukonda mandal of East Godavari district,” forest officer B. Prabhakara Rao told The Hindu at 8 a.m. on Friday. No cat was killed.

“Due to the scorching heat, the tiger spends the whole day in the water tanks. Conservation protocols do not allow the animal to be tranquilized in the water tank,” said Mr. Prabhakara Rao.

By April 6, the tiger had covered more than 650 km during its 53-day hunt across the four states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Published – 24 Apr 2026 19:58 IST