Tigresses step out of Asifabad, Mancherial to meet partners

Forest officials install CCTV cameras to track their movement; take steps to ensure smooth passage

Mancherial: Tigresses roaming in both Mancherial and Kumram Bheem Asifabad districts are now found to be migrating to neighbouring districts in search of companions for mating.

A tigress moving in Mancherial district strayed into the forests of Prof Jayashankar Bhupalpally district and then Peddapalli in its quest to meet a tiger recently. It wandered in the forests of Chennur division for nearly two months to find a male tiger. The tigress eventually left the forests of the district after its unsuccessful bid to get a partner.

---

The tigress aged around four years found in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district was known to have moved to areas falling in Mancherial district in search of a companion in December. It was sighted in the forests of Vemanapalli mandal and killed multiple cattle, triggering panic among locals. Forest officials installed CCTV cameras to track its movement and took steps to ensure smooth passage for the tigress.

Another tigress named L1 also known to be moving in Kumram Bheem Asifabad entered the forests of Mancherial district in December, hoping to find a male partner. Since then, it has been roaming in different parts of Luxettipet range. It was spotted at an irrigation project at Gudipet village in Hajipur mandal recently. It stayed into the forests of Bokkalagutta.

A couple of female tigers moved out of Kagaznagar division in search of a partner in November. Currently, they are noticed in Tiryani and Kerameri forests. They are also unable to find a male companion in the new territory. Still, they continue to stay in the forests of Asifabad division. They kill cows at regular intervals, sparking fear among villagers.

Forest officials said that winter is an important season for mating for tigers. Male tigers travel long distances in search of a partner, while tigresses tend to stay in their territories for quite a long time.

Female tigers use special scents to attract male tigers. They create families if they find a potential partner in a forest, officials explained.

The female tigers residing in Kumram Bheem Asifabad are unable to find male tigers inhabiting in this region for reasons unknown. Their movement is reportedly hindered by railway and road networks developed recently.