Kurnool: Villagers in the proximity of the Rudravaram forest range in Nandyal division are scared to venture into their fields as they suspect that a tigress is on the move.
A farmer observed pugmarks at Mittapalle near Rudravaram and informed forest officials. Special teams have been formed and deployed to monitor the movement of the big cat near Yerracheruvu. Nandyal divisional forest officer Shankar Reddy said that the photographic evidence of the pug marks had been secured.
He said that camera traps had been placed and the tigress’ movements are well monitored.
He said that the tigress could be the mother of a three-year-old female tiger that was found dead in Yerracheruvu in September.
Mr Sankar Reddy said that tigers normally stay in the deep forest and may move out in search of water bodies. Recalling the death of the three-year-old tiger at Yerracheruvu, he said that manner of its death in a pond led experts to surmise that it might have accidentally fallen into the water.
He said that the tiger, before it drowned was captured on camera traps, once in August 201 last year and again in January and was hale and healthy. He said that apart from the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), tigers were also found in Nandyal division in areas like Gundlabramheswaram, Chelima, Bandi Atmakur, Nandyal, Rudravaram forest areas. The moment of tigers is being watched with the help of 42 trap cameras.
