The roaming tiger that moves through villages at the intersection of Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Jangaon and Siddipet districts, has left its last traces in a village in Jangaon district.
A release from the Forest Department said that fresh pug marks of the tiger were found on the outskirts of Mandelagudem village in Raghunathpally mandal of Jangaon district on Friday.
The tiger, which departed from Pandharkawada division near Tippeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, entered Telangana’s Kawal Tiger Reserve in late November 2025. After spending more than two weeks in the core area of the reserve, the animal crossed the Godavari river and entered non-forest areas.
Since then, he has wandered through various districts, surviving only by slaughtering cattle. For the last 20 days, the tiger has been moving in the aforementioned landscape, which is agitating the surrounding villagers, leaving the forest department officials in a difficult situation.
The statement said residents of Lingala Ghanpur, Raghunathpally, Narmetta, Jangaon, Devaruppala and Tarigoppula mandals have been advised to follow safety protocols. Venturing outdoors should be avoided unless necessary, especially during nighttime hours, and if emergency travel is necessary, it should be done only in large groups.
Warnings have been issued against setting up live electrical wire traps as they pose a danger to both the tiger and the public. People have been told that livestock should be protected in safe shelters. Recognizing eight cattle killed by the tiger, the department promised immediate compensation as per established norms.
Listing the measures taken, the statement informed that specialized tiger rescue teams have been mobilized to assist local authorities in real-time monitoring and evaluation. Crowd control measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the tiger and the public.
If the situation warrants it, the capture will be considered under the standard operating procedures of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the note reported. The department has categorically denied “unverified rumours” such as the presence of multiple tigers and territorial marking by the tiger at the site.
Published – February 6, 2026 09:53 pm IST
