Tiger scare haunts Asifabad

The mandals that have been witnessing frequent visits by the big cat include Penchikalpet, Bejjur and Dahegaon, where cattle killings are being reported regularly

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Residents of several villages in various mandals of the district continue to be in the grip of panic following continued sighting of tigers. The mandals that have been witness to frequent visits by the big cat include Penchikalpet, Bejjur and Dahegaon, where cattle killings are being reported regularly.

According to Forest department officials, the big cats have killed over 50 cattle in Kaghaznagar forest division alone in the past 10 months, besides two humans in successive months of 2020. These territorial animals are increasingly being spotted in agriculture fields and streams located on the fringes of forests in these mandals.

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As recent as August 13, a tiger killed a cow that was grazing in the forests of Lodpalli village in Penchikalpet mandal. In another incident on August 11, a tiger chased two persons in the forests of Bejjur mandal when they were on their way to Kammaragaon village in Bejjur mandal.

A big cat killed a calf belonging to Sumputam Bakkaiah in the wild of Yellur village in Penchikalpet mandal on August 5. Three cows were killed by the carnivore while they were grazing in the forests of Lodpalli village on June 23. A cow belonging to Muktyar Ahmed and buffalo of Gorapalli Arjaiah were killed by a tiger when they were grazing in Lodpalli forest on June 15.

“In the wake of several incidents of cattle kills by the animal, shepherds have now stopped taking their cattle for grazing in the forests, which used to be a common practice till recently. Rural folk are also not venturing into the forests for firewood and other needs. Farmers have abandoned agriculture fields located on the forests fringes,” Kotrangi Shankar, a native of Lodpalli village told ‘Telangana Today.’

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