Tiger on search for territory in Mancherial cheers forest officials

The tiger, known as S12, wandered into the district’s forests a few weeks ago. Initially, it remained in the Jannaram forest range within the core of Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) before moving into the Luxettipet range. On November 4, it preyed on cattle in the Muthyampalli section of Luxettipet. By November 8, it had moved further into the Andugulapet and Dharmaram beats.

Mancherial: A male tiger, which migrated from the neighbouring Kumram Bheem Asifabad district to the forests of the district, is searching a territory to live on, cheering officials.

The tiger, officially named S12, drifted towards the forests of the district a few weeks back. It stayed in the Jannaram forest range in the core of Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) and then entered the Luxettipet range. It killed cattle in the forests of Muthyampalli section in Luxetttipet range on November 4. It moved into Andugulapet and Dharmaram beat on November 8.

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“The migrant tiger is shuttling between Luxettipet and Mandamarri forest ranges as part of its effort to find a suitable territory. It may reach Nennal range if it can cross National Highway 363 through a stream near Bokkalagutta village in Mandamarri mandal. Forests of the district are conducive for a tiger,” a forest official said.

The forest officials installed CCTV camera traps to track movement of the tiger, apart from deploying animal trackers. They are also taking steps to ensure safety for the tiger in the forests of the district, as part of which they are creating awareness among rural folks over the consequences of harming a tiger.
On the other hand, the officials quickly released compensation to a farmer whose cattle were killed by this tiger in the forests of Muthyampalli section a few days back. They urged farmers not to set electrified fences meant for preventing damage of crops by wild boars. They reasoned that tigers play a vital role in killing boars, addressing the menace.

Despite sustained efforts and a slew of amenities such as development of grasslands, the forests of the district, in particular the Kawal Tiger Reserve, failed to attract tigers from 2022 onwards. However, the arrival of the tiger into the forests pleased the officials. The authorities feel that the tiger would make the forests its home and the population of tigers would grow soon.