Tiger panic in Kunduram: Rescuers from Pune join Telangana tiger hunt

Panic gripped Kunduram village in Lingaghanpur mandal of Jangaon after fresh tiger pugmarks were spotted in maize fields. Forest officials from Jangaon and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri districts launched an operation to trace the animal, with support from a rescue team from Pune.

Kunduram (Jangaon): The wandering tiger created panic in Kunduram village in Lingaghanpur mandal of Jangaon on Thursday.

A local farmer alerted forest officials after sighting tiger pugmarks in the maize fields in the morning. The forest officials of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri and Jangaon districts reached the spot and started the operation to trace the tiger.

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A few shepherds also claimed to have seen the tiger in the fields. The pug marks were also fresh, indicating the tiger was moving around in the fields.

A team of tiger rescuers from Pune reached the spot and are carrying equipment to track the tiger movement. Forest officials have alerted the local villagers to inform them about any cattle missing cases. Around 6 pm, the forest officials got information about missing cattle. Teams from other reserve forests also joined the efforts.

Meanwhile, with frustration rising among the villagers following cattle attacks, the forest department has increased its vigil to protect the tiger. The forest department is now posting a team of forest officials to guard the carcass of the cattle killed by the tiger.

“As per the norms of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the carcass must be preserved for 48 hours and then buried. The villagers are angry and they might poison the carcass knowing that the tiger will revisit the spot to feed upon it. So we are guarding the carcass,” said a beat officer at Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.

The forest department has installed cameras which relay live feed to the local officials and control room. No one is allowed to visit the spot of animal killing. The protocol is being followed at all tiger killing spots.