Tigers from Maharashtra move in Mancherial forests possibly for territory and partners

At least five tigers, including L1 and T1, have migrated into Mancherial district forests from Maharashtra. While some are killing cattle, forest officials hope migration during the breeding season will boost tiger population, ensuring safety for humans and wildlife

Mancherial: At least five tigers are found to be moving in the forests of the district, a finding that brought delight to Forest officials and environment enthusiasts.

Authorities say a tigress named L1 made the forests of the district as its home for quite a long time. It is killing cattle occasionally in Luxettipet range. It is comparatively quiet and is not showing interest in exploring other landscapes. It had migrated to the district from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve of Chandrapur in Maharashtra in November last.

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Similarly, another female tiger titled T1 is shuttling between the forests of Devapur and Tiryani ranges at regular intervals. Unlike L1, it is on a spree of cattle killings, triggering panic among locals. It is now marking boundaries of its territory, spraying urine, rubbing against trees and depositing scats in the different parts of the wild.

Besides this, a male tiger moved from Maharashtra into the core of Kawal Tiger Reserve by crossing Jodeghat in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district recently. It killed a cow in a mango orchard near Indanpalli village. It was sighted while crossing a road between Jannaram-Utnoor and Nirmal on Thursday night. Forest officials said that it was roaring and moving actively in the reserve. Incidentally, this area saw the presence of a tiger after a gap of over 4 years.

Meanwhile, three more migrant tigers are found moving in Bellampalli and Chennur divisions. A tiger attacked a herd of cows in the forests of Chamanpalli village. Another tiger’s pugmarks were spotted in agriculture fields on the outskirts of Anandapur village in Kushnepalli range on Thursday. It drifted towards the district from Dahegaon mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.

Already, a tiger strayed into the forests of Bheemaram by crossing the Nennal of Mancherial district a few days back. The three tigers supposedly inhabiting the TATR have migrated to the forests of the district in search of territory and partner for mating since it is the season of breeding for the tigers, forest officials opined.

The Forest officials hoped that migration of tigers might give rise to an increase in population of tigers if female tigers can attract the female ones and create families in this landscape. They stated that efforts were being made to ensure safety and smooth passage for the tigers, besides preventing human loss.