VISAKHAPATNAM: Based on pugmarks being tracked, with latest ones seen on shores of a reservoir on Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram border, the elusive tiger seems to be heading towards a proper tiger habitat in Eastern Ghats across the Andhra border.
Foresters are hoping it will keep to this track. That will be good for human habitations, as the tiger appears on way to the pristine forest lands beyond Andhra borders. It will also help the animal live peacefully, away from humans and its trackers.
Sharing the latest status of the elusive tiger’s movement with Deccan Chronicle, Visakhapatnam forest officer Anant Shankar said fresh pugmarks of a healthy male sub-adult tiger have been found in Ellippi Reserve Forest of Visakhapatnam Forest Division bordering Vizianagaram.
“The tiger pugmarks are in the direction of Vizianagaram district. We have alerted our counterparts there. We will be happy if the tiger gets into nature, instead of roaming in the plains,” Shankar observed. They are using a drone too to track the wild animal.
According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the elusive tiger is yet an unaccounted wild animal, as its stripes have not been matched so far. They have, however, sent the tiger’s photographs to NTCA for entry into official records and future reference.
The Vizag forest officer said: "The tiger has killed about 10 cattle so far in our area. We have provided compensation of around ₹1.9 lakh to cattle owners. Compensation is not an issue for us, safety of tiger, people and livestock is. Thankfully, no human casualties have been reported so far.”
The tiger’s latest sighting is from near Chinthalapalem village in K. Kottapadu mandal of Anakapalli district. It remained in the area from July 17 to July 21 and also got captured in camera traps set up near one of its kills.
“The tiger has not turned around. This shows it is aware of human presence and is heading away into the wild,” Shankar remarked.
