BHUPALPALLY: Locals have reported the movement of a tiger prowling around the outskirts of Edlapalli, Koyyur, and Malhar Rao villages in the Thadicherla Reserve Forest area of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district on Friday. The sighting has triggered widespread fear, with villagers hesitant to even step outside their homes. The big cat is suspected to have killed a cow on the outskirts of Edlapalli.
Following the reports, the Jayashankar Bhupalpally district forest department has issued a high alert and deployed its entire staff to monitor the situation. The tiger’s movement has created tension throughout the forest areas of Edlapalli, Koyyur, and Malhar Rao mandals, particularly in the evenings when fear among residents intensifies.
Gram panchayat officials have been making public announcements, urging people not to enter forested areas and to remain vigilant.
Upon receiving news of the attack on cattle, forest officials from Kataram rushed to the site and confirmed the presence of the tiger by identifying its pugmarks.
Speaking to TNIE, District Forest Officer (DFO) M Naveen Reddy stated that teams have been dispatched to track the animal’s movements. The pug marks confirmed it to be a male tiger, likely to have migrated from the Peddapalli forest area.
“We have set up camera traps and sought the assistance of wildlife experts to trace the animal. Awareness campaigns are also being conducted in nearby villages, advising residents not to enter the forest, especially for cattle grazing,” he said.