Wild animals stray into human habitations in search of water, feed in Rayalaseema

Anantapur: With the rise in summer heat, reserved forests and in particular the hillocks have been forcing tigers, leopards and other wild animals to stray into nearby human habitations for water and feed in Rayalaseema region.

Though the forest department is keeping ready water ponds for the animals to quench their thirst, the hillock areas dry up during the summer.

Major portions of the reserved forests have hillocks in Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa regions and areas closer to human habitations. At least four municipalities and more than 30 mandal headquarters are located closer to the hills, part of the reserved forests.

Despite the unfavourable drought conditions, the wild animal population has been growing in these parts of Rayalassema. Even the tiger zone of Nallamala-Nagarjunasagar, part of Nallamala, has small habitations and people have been witnessing frequent visits of tigers.

Recently, four tiger cubs were found in the agriculture fields in Nandyal district. They were rescued. The forest department is unable to trace out the whereabouts of the mother tigers so far while the people in the surrounding villages are scared of going out of their homes for agricultural activities or travel. Tigers are frequently seen in human habitations, in search of cattle and dogs, in the Nallamala forest area.

Bears and leopards have been regular visitors in human habitations including the municipal limits of Anantapur district, Kalyanadurgam, Rayadurg, Madakasira and Penukonda municipalities.