Divisional Forest Officer says the big cat is safe and in no danger of moving
Divisional Forest Officer says the big cat is safe and in no danger of moving
Wildlife officials in Andhra Pradesh have deployed teams in Prathipadu mandal of Kakinada district to ensure a safe passage for the adult tiger to enter its natural habitat.
On Tuesday, all routes leading to the hill range surrounded by casuarina plantations in Pratipadu mandal were sealed for vehicular movement to take the Royal Bengal Tiger towards Thotapalli Reserve Forest in East Godavari Agency.
The exact location and details of the hills where the adult tiger has been roaming for the past four days and is believed to be resting are not being disclosed to ensure that there is no threat to its further movement and security .
The tiger has been found healthy and is gaining access to safe drinking water in the Polavaram canal, with wildlife officials recording its trail to trace its further path.
Officials say that the tiger appears to be healthy based on the pictures taken with the camera trap. The tiger was sighted on the night of 29 May when it returned to eat the buffalo that had been killed earlier.
“We are tracing the movement of the tiger, which is safe without any threat to its further movement. Its movements are being scanned by following its footsteps and installing CC cameras along Polavaram canal and adjoining water bodies,” Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife-Rajahmundry) C. Selvam told Hindu,
Earlier in the day, forest workers cremated the carcass of a buffalo killed by the tiger and paid compensation to its owner.
“We are monitoring the movements of tigers as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority,” Mr. Selvam said.