Surge in tiger movement forces safety changes for officials in Mancherial forests

A spike in tiger movement in Mancherial forests — including four migrant tigers from Maharashtra — has led Forest officials to revise field timings and enforce stricter safety protocols. Staff have been told to avoid early-morning and late-evening entry due to heightened big-cat activity.

Mancherial: The unprecedented movement of tigers in the forests of the district has cheered Forest officials, but also forced them to be cautious and revise timings for entering the forests for tasks including tracking of big cats.

The forests in the district have seen the migration of four tigers from Maharashtra for the first time in recent years, in addition to two tigresses already inhabiting the area. The movement of both resident and migrant tigers is higher than ever, delighting officials while prompting enhanced safety measures for staff.

---

“Considering the increased movement of both resident and migrant tigers, staffers have been advised to step into the forests only after 8 am. They earlier used to enter the wild by 6 am to track tiger movement and ensure smooth passage for the national animal. The move is aimed at preventing confrontation with tigers and possible attacks,” a forest official said.

Similarly, officials engaged in checking snares and illegal tapping of power to hunt wildlife have been asked to leave the forests by 6 pm due to the presence of multiple tigers. The revised timings are meant to avoid encounters and protect field staff, the official explained.

Incidentally, the resident tigers are actively roaming from one forest to another almost every day in search of prey. L1, a female tiger residing in the Luxettipet range since December last year, is said to be shy and quiet, while T1, another tigress in the Muthyampet and Tiryani ranges for nine months, is aggressive and has been killing cattle at regular intervals. Both have crossed 21 months of age and begun hunting on their own.

According to Forest officials, the female tigers are constantly roaring to draw the attention of male tigers as winter is breeding season. They are giving signals to males wandering along the borders of their territories. However, migrant tigers, suspected to be males, are not entering the territories of resident tigers owing to impediments such as highways and railway tracks along their routes.