Tiger travels 400 km from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in search of a mate

A male tiger from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra has trekked over 400 km across five districts, sparking panic after straying into Yadadri Bhongir. Forest officials confirmed the tiger is searching for a mate, using scent-marking and other signals to attract females.

Adilabad: The tiger that has been triggering panic in Yadadri Bhongir, has been confirmed to be a male tiger from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal of Maharashtra.

According to officials, the tiger has covered over 400 kilometres, passing through five districts in search of a partner for mating.

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Forest officials said the tiger initially entered the Boath forests in Adilabad district in search of a female partner by embarking on a risky trek a few months back. It then strayed into Yadadri by crossing Mancherial, Nirmal, Kamareddy and Siddipet districts in an attempt to achieve its goal since winter is considered as season of breeding for tigers.

Wildlife experts said that male tigers set out for longer journeys to meet a female tiger. The male tigers can easily walk for up to 30 km, mostly during dawn and dusk, a day to accomplish their goal. They generally take rest during the day. They hunt prey in a territory and fill their bellies before exploring surrounding forests if they don’t find a partner, a senior Forest official said.

According to experts, in order to attract the opposite sex, the tigers use various signals such as spraying urine, rubbing against trees, scratching trunks, depositing scats in the different parts of a forest.

The tigers in return meet their counterparts if they are impressed with the signals. They choose the partners by assessing the physical strength and many other traits of the tigers.

Forest officials disclosed that the tiger missed the opportunity to reach female tigers residing in Kawal Tiger Reserve for reasons unknown. Perhaps, it could not sense the signals conveyed by the female tigers. Else, it was disliked by the female tigers there, they said. It is continuing its search for the partner, facing the threat of electrified fences and snares set by wildlife hunters in the forests across Telangana.

In 2024, a 7-year-old male tiger of Maharashtra named Johnny trekked a distance of 300 km through Adilabad, Nirmal, Mancherial and Kumram Bheem Asifabad districts in search for a partner.