Farmers On Alert After Tiger Sighted In Mahbubabad
The alert was issued after villagers from Rampur reported spotting a dead cow in the forest. Forest officials rushed to the spot, identified pugmarks, and found other evidence of the tiger’s movement in the region.
WARANGAL: Forest officials have put people on high alert after confirming the presence of a tiger in the Rampuram forest area of Kothagudem mandal in Mahbubabad district.
The alert was issued after villagers from Rampur reported spotting a dead cow in the forest. Forest officials rushed to the spot, identified pugmarks, and found other evidence of the tiger’s movement in the region. They confirmed that the cow’s death was caused by a tiger attack.
Notably, in June, a cow was killed in a tiger attack, and the animal’s movement was recorded in the vicinity of the Boggu Lavagu Project area, which falls under the Koyyur Forest Range in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district.
Mahbubabad district forest officer B. Vishal told Deccan Chronicle that the tiger, believed to be an adult male, killed the cow in a hilly area away from Rampur village. He explained that during the breeding season, male tigers consume more food and often carry their prey to a safe place, eating it over three or four sittings. Samples from the cow’s body have been collected for a post-mortem, and the report is awaited. Forest officials are also studying pugmarks and photographs to determine whether this is the same tiger sighted a few months ago.
Meanwhile, forest officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid venturing out alone. Farmers and shepherds have been advised not to graze cattle in forested areas and to immediately inform authorities if they notice signs of tiger movement.
Officials have also directed locals to remove traps and electric fencing set up to protect fields from wild animals, warning that strict action will be taken under the Wildlife Protection Act against anyone attempting to harm the tiger.