Tiger Kills A Calf At Basnthapur; Moves Towards Lakshmakkapally

Nalgonda:  A wandering tiger killed another calf, this time at Basanthapur of Rajapet mandal in Yadadri-Bhongir district on Monday night. Basanthapur is located 20 distance away from Vasalamarry where the tiger was last sighted on January 30. This is also the 10th calf to fall prey to the tiger since it was first reported in the district.

On Tuesday morning, Katkuri Ramesh, a farmer, found his calf, which he had left at his agricultural well along with cattle on the outskirts of Basanthapur, missing. On searching, he saw the calf lying dead a few metres with an injury on its neck. It appeared that the tiger had partially fed on the calf.

Upon information, forest department reached the village and found pug marks belonging to a tiger on the embankment of the field. They tracked them to the outskirts of Nemila and Pittalagudem villages and the trail led them to Lakshmakkapally in the mandal. With the help of the police, the forest officials alerted the villagers of nearby Lakshmakkapally, Palugu thanda and Ramannagudem to be alert in view of movement of the tiger in the area. It is suspected that the tiger may have taken shelter in Palakondagutta, a tree-covered hillock near Lakshmakkapally.

District collector M. Hanumantha Rao visited Basanthapur and asked the people to be alert. Officials informed the collector that thermal drone cameras and trap cameras were being used to track the movement of the tiger. Cages were set up at select place to try to catch it.

The collector advised locals not to go out alone at night and head out in groups when going for agricultural work. Hamumantha Rao also asked farmers to set up proper lighting in their cattle sheds. People should alert the police or forest officials immediately upon sighting the tiger, he said.