Tiger movement sparks panic among farmers in Kagaznagar division

Pugmarks of a tiger spotted in agricultural fields of Bibra, Pesarikunta, and Sarsala villages have raised alarm among farmers in Kagaznagar division. Forest officials are monitoring the animal and advising safety measures to prevent human-animal conflicts.

Kumram Bheem: The movement of a tiger has triggered panic among farmers in several villages of Kagaznagar division. Pugmarks of the big cat were spotted in the agricultural fields of Bibra, Pesarikunta, and Sarsala villages in Dahegaon and Kagaznagar mandals on Monday.

Farmers said they found the pugmarks in paddy fields on the outskirts of Bibra village in Dahegaon mandal and shared the photographs on social media to alert residents in nearby areas. They appealed to Forest officials to track the tiger’s movement and drive it back into the deep forest to prevent any human casualty.

---

Forest officials confirmed that a tiger had drifted towards Dahegaon mandal, crossing Peddavagu, possibly in search of territory. They advised farmers to move in groups while attending to agricultural work and to make noise while harvesting cotton to ward off the animal. Awareness campaigns were also taken up to inform villagers about the tiger’s presence.

Despite the precautions, fear continues to grip the farmers following the increased tiger activity in the division. A 21-year-old farm labourer, Morle Lakshmi of Gannaram village in Kagaznagar, was mauled to death by a transient tiger while she was picking cotton with six others near Easgaon village on November 29 last year.