Movement of tiger triggers panic among rural folks in Telangana’s Nirmal

Forest officials say that a male tiger, aged between 6 and 8, was moving in the forests of Mamada after crossing the national highway

Nirmal: A tiger, which was spotted by motorists when crossing NH-44 on the outskirts of Chincholi (B) village in Sarangapur mandal late on Sunday night, entered the forests of Mamada range on Tuesday, triggering panic among locals.

Officials of the Forest Department said that a male tiger, aged between 6 and 8, was moving in the forests of Mamada after crossing the national highway. They stated that it killed cattle in the forests of Burkaregadi village in Tandra-Mamada ranges. They predicted that it might either stray into the forests of Neradigonda or Khanapur range in a day or two.

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The officials further said that 16 CCTV camera traps were installed and animal trackers were deployed to track the movement of the tiger. They noted that awareness was being created among rural folks over the movement of the tiger. They urged the dwellers of forest fringe villages not to set electrified fences meant for preventing damage of crops by wild animals.

Search for female companion
The officials suspected that the tiger was searching for a female companion as it was mating season for the carnivores. They informed that the tiger inhabiting in the forests of neighbouring Maharashtra’s Kinwat initially drifted towards Boath of Adilabad district and subsequently entered forest of Kuntala and Sarangapur

Meanwhile, villagers of Burugupalli, Gaidpalli and many forest fringe villages in Mamada mandal are on the edge following the movement of the tiger. They urged the forest officials to take steps to prevent human loss. Farmers are hesitating to harvest cotton produce fearing being attacked by the tiger.