Tiger movement near Telangana-AP border triggers panic in Aswaraopet villages

Reported movement of a tracker-fitted tiger along the Telangana-Andhra Pradesh border has triggered concern in Aswaraopet mandal. Forest officials are on alert and warning villagers against entering forest areas after reports of cattle deaths in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Kothagudem: Reported movement of a tiger in the forests along the Godavari river basin on the Telangana-Andhra Pradesh border has created panic among villagers in Aswaraopet mandal.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Aswaraopet Forest Range Officer Murali said that though the tiger, fitted with a tracker, was reportedly moving along the border areas, it had not been sighted in the local forest range and its pugmarks had not been found anywhere.

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However, forest officials and staff were on high alert. Field-level forest staff had been creating awareness among residents of villages located near forest areas and advising them not to venture into the forests.

The tiger might have been sighted in the Kothuru area of Velerupadu mandal in Andhra Pradesh, where it reportedly killed four cows over the past few days. It might have strayed into villages from Papikonda National Park, the Forest Range Officer said.

According to locals, the tiger was seen moving through the Kavadigundla and Kannayigudem areas of Aswaraopet mandal last year. At that time, a few cows were reportedly killed by the tiger.