A 3-year-old male tiger spotted killing cattle near Torredu village on the outskirts of Rajamahendravaram on February 1. Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
Rajamahendravaram wildlife authorities have adopted state-of-the-art technology, including the deployment of thermal drones and 4G cameras, to scan the forest and landscape that the transient tiger has been visiting for the past fortnight with the intention of tranquilizing it. Thermal drones will scan the landscape at night to track tiger movements.
The three-year-old male tiger, said to be from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, entered the Godavari region by swimming in the Pranahita, a tributary of the Godavari River, and entered the Papikonda Hill Range in the Eastern Ghats.
The tiger was spotted crossing the state highway before entering the Diwan Cheruvuru Reserve on Tuesday evening. It was further reported that he allegedly entered a grain field in the Pidimgoyyi area on the outskirts of Rajamahendravaram on Wednesday night.
It has traveled nearly 10 kilometers in the last 24 hours and is said to be approaching the Soodhikonda Hill Range, which is connected to the Papikonda Hill Range in the Maredumilli area. However, he hasn’t hunted any cattle in the last 24 hours.
Landscape scanning
Speaking to The Hindu, Rajamahendravaram Chief Conservator of Forest BNN Murthy said; “We have deployed thermal drones, 4G cameras, web camera traps to monitor the landscape that the tiger covers.”
“On Thursday, a five-member expert team from the Pune-based RESQ Charitable Trust will arrive to assist the rescue committee formed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in tranquilizing the tiger,” Mr. Murthy added. RESQ Trust works with forest department in various states.
The expert team based in Pune is equipped with basic equipment, customized aids, sophisticated sedation equipment and medicines to facilitate safe rescue operations. Led by District Forest Officer B. Prabhakar Rao, at least 100 personnel from the forest department have been monitoring the tiger’s movement in the Godavari region since it swam on the night of January 31.
Published – 04 Feb 2026 21:27 IST
