Two arrested for tiger’s death in Andhra’s Nallamalla forests

Andhra Pradesh Forest Department arrested two suspects in connection with the suspicious death of a tiger in Nallamalla forest’s Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Investigators are probing possible poaching or poisoning after the tiger’s missing paws raised illegal wildlife trade concerns. Forensic reports are awaited

Amaravati: Making progress in the case relating to the death of a tiger under suspicious circumstances in Nallamalla forest, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department arrested two suspects. Anji and Viranjaneyulu were arrested at Medikundur in Guntur district and shifted to Giddalur in Markapuram district for questioning, officials said on Tuesday.

The Forest Department has intensified the investigation into the case following orders by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. The carcass of an adult tiger was found on July 31 near Tettu Madugu in the Gundlakamma Range of the Racherla forest area in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), Markapuram district.

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The Forest officials were examining whether the tiger was poached, died after consuming poisoned bait or succumbed to other causes. The investigators suspect the tiger may have died 35 to 40 days before the carcass was discovered. The big cat’s paws and legs were missing, raising suspicions that the claws had been removed for illegal trade.

The tiger’s remains have been sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, for forensic and post-mortem analysis.

The investigators are awaiting forensic reports to determine the cause of the death. Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forests, Pawan Kalyan, on August 1 ordered a probe into the death of a tiger at the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

He said the incident of a tiger’s death in the Racharla Beat of the Giddaluru Division within the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) came to his attention. He posted on ‘X’ that for nature’s balance to remain undisturbed, the conservation of tigers is of utmost importance.

“The loss of even a single tiger’s life is a matter of grave concern. This incident serves as yet another reminder of our responsibility to protect our forests and wildlife,” he said.

Pawan Kalyan said he had directed the NSTR Field Director to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation to uncover the reasons behind this death.