Wildlife / Tiger from Andhra sanctuary enters Odisha's Malkangiri; Villagers put on alert

Malkangiri, Nov 2: A four-year-old Royal Bengal tiger from Andhra Pradesh has entered Odisha's Malkangiri district and is currently moving through the Motu forest region, prompting forest authorities to intensify surveillance and issue advisories for residents living along the inter-State border, officials said on Monday.

According to forest officials, the tiger, originating from the Papikondalu landscape in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, has been tracked through a radio collar fitted to its body. The animal's movement is being monitored using satellite and Very High Frequency (VHF) tracking systems.

Malkangiri Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sai Kiran said the tiger's location is being continuously monitored and appealed to local residents not to harm the animal and to cooperate with the authorities.

Search and Monitoring

The Malkangiri Forest Division has launched an extensive search and monitoring operation along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed in vulnerable areas to tackle any emergency situation arising from the tiger's presence.

Forest officials believe the big cat entered the Motu forest area from Andhra Pradesh while searching for food. The tiger is known to have undertaken a remarkable cross-State journey and had reportedly travelled nearly 850 kilometres by March this year through regions bordering Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra before reaching the Papikondalu sanctuary and subsequently Odisha.

Villagers Alerted

Authorities have stepped up awareness campaigns in villages bordering forest areas through public address systems. Residents have been advised not to venture into forests unnecessarily, remain within their villages, and immediately report any sighting or movement of the tiger to forest officials.

Special emphasis has been placed on protecting livestock, with villagers urged to remain vigilant regarding cattle movement near forest fringes.
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Compensation Provision

The DFO said standard protocols prescribed under the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) Standard Operating Procedure are being followed for tracking and monitoring the tiger in fringe areas.

Officials have assured that compensation would be provided in cases where livestock is killed by the tiger. Forest departments of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are jointly monitoring the animal's movement while ensuring both public safety and wildlife conservation.

The Forest Department has urged residents not to panic and to cooperate with officials as monitoring efforts continue.