Tiger Kills Cattle Near Achampet, Forest Teams Step up Monitoring
Officials said frontline staff deployment and surveillance activities had already been strengthened over the past few years due to recurring wildlife movement in the reserve landscape.
Hyderabad: A big cat that has been moving through parts of the Amrabad tiger reserve landscape killed cattle near Achampet in Nagarkurnool district, concerns among villagers living close to the forest fringe. Forest officials said that the tiger’s movement was verified through camera trap footage after the animal killed a bull belonging to farmer Pathlavath Mothya Naik near Shivaru thanda. Officials said the tiger was not new to the region and had been tracked earlier within the Achampet and Amrabad forest belt.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Revanth Chandra, divisional forest officer (DFO), Nagarkurnool, and deputy director of Amrabad tiger reserve, said such incidents were not unusual and that at least five cattle kill cases were recorded every month in the broader reserve region. He said the department had stepped up awareness drives in villages, especially in areas close to forest stretches. He added that officials have been advising farmers and residents on how to stay alert, avoid isolated movement during early morning and night hours, and respond safely if tiger sightings are reported.
“There have been continuous awareness programmes in villages on precautionary measures and what people should do in case of sightings,” he said. The official confirmed that compensation would be provided to the farmer after a veterinary assessment determines the final valuation of the killed cattle, which most likely to be around Rs.80,000.
While no AI-based animal detection system is active in the area, forest teams have begun drone monitoring in vulnerable stretches. Officials said frontline staff deployment and surveillance activities had already been strengthened over the past few years due to recurring wildlife movement in the reserve landscape. Forest officials also said tiger sightings and movement reports had continued in core forest villages, though recent complaints from fringe habitations were fewer.
