A male tiger walks through a casuarina plantation near the Pampa reservoir in Kakinada district. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
The transient male tiger, named ‘Explorer’, turned around and was spotted walking back to Papikonda National Park through dense forest in Kakinada district on Tuesday.
In the last 24 hours, the tiger had walked more than 25 kilometers and was spotted near the Yeleru reservoir. However, on Tuesday evening, the tiger was spotted in the Bouruvaka Reserve Forest, located between Pampa Reservoir and Yeleru Reservoir, far from human habitation.
Retired Chief Conservator of Forests and Adviser to Andhra Pradesh Forest Department P. Mallikarjuna Rao said; “Experts and forest department personnel have prepared the ground for tranquilizing the tiger if its movement required.
Mr. Mallikarjuna Rao thanked the local communities for their support and for implementing the strategy and deploying forest personnel in their areas to pacify the tiger.
“The staff of 11 HANUMAN teams (medical and nursing units for monitoring, relief and treatment of wildlife) are monitoring the movement of the tiger and alerting the local communities about its path,” said Mr. Mallikarjuna Rao.
An official associated with the operation told The Hindu that the tiger would be tranquilized if it did not go back to Papikonda National Park.
Published – 17 March 2026 21:15 IST
