Camera trap image of the tiger approaching its kill during night.
| Photo Credit: By arrangement
The tiger which has strayed into the non-forest areas of Telangana and is presently moving in the intersection of Yadadri-Siddipet-Janagam districts, has killed eight animals in a matter of three weeks. The latest kill was at a village in Alair mandal of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.All the animals killed were cattle, due to which the villagers are demanding that the authorities capture the tiger immediately.Under normal circumstances, a tiger hunts once a week at the most, and sometimes when the animal is large in size such as Sambar deer, the gap extends to 10 days or more. However, in this case, the sub-adult tiger is forced to kill repeatedly, as it is being deprived of a hearty meal, say experts.First, it was the Forest officials who would burn the carcass of the kill as soon as they found it, for the fear that the villagers might poison the meat to kill the tiger. Later, it is the villagers who crowd near the carcass to get a view of the tiger, sources said.Forest department officials are unable to communicate effectively with the villagers as the latter are agitated at the former’s inaction. “We cannot act independently when it comes to a tiger. Everything needs to be done only in consultation with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Even if we have to tranquilise the animal and shift it to a safer place, it has to be done only after a nod from the apex tiger authority,” says an official under the condition of anonymity.A special committee has been constituted with the objective of monitoring the tiger’s movements and take decisions with regard to the course of action to be adopted by the Forest department.The committee includes members from the NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India, apart from two representatives from NGOs working in wildlife conservation and rescue/rehabilitation. It will meet at least twice a week to review the developments and take appropriate decisions based on evolving situation on the ground.At a review meeting with Forest officials, NTCA member Harini Venugopal was apprised of the tiger’s movements since it had entered Telangana from the Pandavkhara division of the Tipeshwar wildlife sanctuary two weeks ago.The animal stayed for more than two weeks within the core area of Kawal Tiger Reserve before starting its journey, for reasons still unclear. Field assessments have led to the assumption that the tiger could have moved out of Kawal in search of territory or a potential mate. While two tigresses have already been staying in Kawal for close to a year or more, their territories were far from the route of the male, officials say. Published - February 04, 2026 09:06 pm IST
