Wandering Tiger Enters Jangaon, Forest Teams Deploy Drones To Track Movement
Jangaon District Forest Officer Kondal Reddy said the tiger's pugmarks were noticed Thursday morning at a village in Lingala Ghanpur mandal
WARANGAL: The sub-adult male tiger that has kept residents of Yadadri Bhongir district on alert for the past three weeks has now crossed into Jangaon district, forest officials said on Thursday.
Fresh pugmarks were found at Konduram village in Lingala Ghanpur mandal, about 60 km from Hyderabad, prompting the district administration to issue a high alert in nearby villages.
Jangaon forest range officer Kondal Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that the tiger is believed to be sheltering in a 500-600 acre stretch of barren government land covered with dense thorny bushes and thickets.
He said the animal appears to have grown up close to human habitations, as it has been moving comfortably near villages. Tracking during the daytime remains difficult, he said, adding that forest teams, supported by staff from Yadadri Bhongir district, would deploy thermal-imaging drones after dusk to locate the tiger.
Officials said no cattle kills have been reported so far in the Jangaon stretch. In Yadadri Bhongir district, the tiger had killed eight animals, mostly cows, during its nearly 20-day stay. The officer said capturing the animal was not feasible at this stage as officials were still monitoring its movement and dispersal pattern.
Forest officials believe the tiger originated from the Kawal Tiger Reserve area in Mancherial district, near the Maharashtra border. The animal is estimated to have travelled over 250 km to reach the outskirts of Hyderabad, a movement described by officials as rare and documented after nearly five decades. Tracking data indicates the tiger has been covering around 20 to 25 km every night while avoiding direct contact with people.
The tiger has not yet been captured on camera traps in the new area. Officials said coordination was underway with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to decide the next course of action. Preventing human-wildlife conflict remains the immediate priority.
Meanwhile, forest officials have begun ‘tom-tomming’ in border villages to alert residents. People have been advised not to venture out alone after dark, while farmers have been asked to move in groups during the day and keep livestock secured.
