Tiger moving in Kawal enters Khanapur division in Nirmal as officials track her journey

A migrant tigress that entered the Kawal Tiger Reserve core in late November has now moved into Khanapur division in Nirmal district. Forest officials are tracking her movement through Dasturabad and Kaddampeddur ranges while sensitising villagers and ensuring safe passage for the big cat.

Nirmal: A migrant tiger that had moved into the core of the Kawal Tiger Reserve has now drifted towards the neighbouring Khanapur division of the district.

The tiger, suspected to be a female from Maharashtra, entered the core area of the reserve in search of territory after crossing Kerameri and Sirpur (U) mandals of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district in the fourth week of November. Its arrival cheered Forest officials as the core had not seen a tiger’s entry for over four years.

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Soon after entering the core zone, the tiger killed a cow in a mango farm located on revenue land on the outskirts of Indanpalli village in Jannaram mandal. It stayed in the forests of Kawal for over 10 days and was recently sighted while crossing the busy Jannaram Untoor Khanapur road.

The tiger has been roaming in the Dasturabad forests for the past few days and its movement is being closely tracked. Animal trackers have been deployed to follow it, and CCTV camera traps have been installed. Efforts are being made to ensure a smooth passage for the tiger, while awareness is being created among villagers about its presence, a forest official said.

Officials believe the tiger left the core of Kawal and strayed into the forests of Kaddampeddur range in Khanapur division due to disturbances such as encroachments of forest lands. They feel it might return to the core area or explore suitable landscapes in the vicinity. They also hope that if it attracts a male tiger, the big cat could breed here.