Tiger Kills 14 Calves of Cattle, Foresters Intensify Efforts to Capture It

Vijayawada:A team of wildlife experts from Bengaluru are arriving at Rampachodavaram in Polavaram district on Thursday to help AP foresters safely capture a tiger on the prowl in an expeditious manner.

The tiger went on a killing spree, targeting 14 calves of buffaloes and cows, which were tied in the cattle sheds by farmers at Gangampalem village in Devipatnam mandal of Polavaram district in the early hours on Wednesday.

The carnivore killed nine cattle falling under the Kondalingamparthi and Vathangi stretches of Rajavommangi range on May 27.

Foresters said the tiger is killing cattle especially during late night or early morning hours and resting on hillocks during the day time.

“We are calling in a team of experts from Bengaluru having the expertise in tranquilising and capturing the tiger. They would soon join the operation and provide technical assistance to help capture the tiger,” state foresters said.

Some 200 forest personnel have been deployed in the operation to capture the tiger. Six rapid rescue teams, five public awareness teams, four tranquilisation teams, two drone teams, two VHF antenna teams, one each cage team and wildlife ambulance team and nearly 21 Hanuman teams are working in coordination to tranquilise and capture the tiger.

Rajamahendravaram chief conservator of forests, T Jyothi, said, “We are making all-out efforts to capture the tiger safely. We appeal to the villagers in the vulnerable areas to not move alone during night and in the early hours of the day for their own safety.”

Meanwhile, foresters notice that in the area where the tiger killed 14 calves of cattle, the villagers are moving to the rehabilitation centres of the Polavaram project-affected people during nights and returning to their homes during the day time.

The tiger is on a killing spree to probably establish its own territory in the fringe villages of the Papikonda national park.