The tiger, which was previously released near the Papikonda Hills, is once again roaming in the Kakinada district. Yesterday, it hunted and killed a buffalo calf in Denaka village. The Forest Department “Hanuman” teams are making intensive efforts to recapture the tiger.
RAJA PENTAPATI AP Bureau Chief
March 17 | Bharat News
(Five-Star Rated News Service by Google)
AMARAVATI: The tiger—which previously terrorized the residents of the Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh, by hunting and killing livestock—has re-entered the region, becoming a major headache for Forest Department officials and leaving them sleepless. Regarding a panic situation in public.
On Monday, the tiger—which had been hiding in a mandapam (pavilion) near Annavaram—traveled 12 kilometers and returned to ‘Denak’ village. In that village, on Sunday night, it had hunted and killed a five-day-old buffalo calf belonging to Polam Burrayya. Forest officials stated that they are monitoring the tiger’s movements every half-hour via a collar fitted around its neck.
Recently, a tiger entered human settlements in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh. Consequently, villagers residing near the borders of Prathipadu, Addateegala, Sankhavaram, and Polavaram are gripped by fear and anxiety.
The tiger was first sighted in early March 2026, marking the beginning of attacks on livestock (cows, calves, and buffaloes). By March 15–16, the last reported information indicated that the tiger was hiding either in agricultural fields or in the hills.
Believed to be a Bengal tiger that strayed from nearby wildlife sanctuaries, the animal has been roaming across several mandals—including Addateegala, Prathipadu, and Rajavommangi—killing livestock and creating widespread panic.
As of March 17, 2026, it is believed to be located between the villages of Sankhavaram and G. Kothapalli, or to be moving in the direction of Routhulapudi. However, there have been no reports of any attacks on humans.
Forest officials are monitoring the situation using footprints, evidence of hunted prey, and drones; public anxiety persists as the animal has been roaming the area for over two weeks.
Led by DFO N. Ramachandra Rao, the AP Forest Department has deployed a force of over 120 personnel, including 11 specialized “Hanuman Teams” and veterinary experts from the Srisailam-Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve (NSTR) and Rajamahendravaram.
They are utilizing 40–52 trap cameras (including night-vision units), baited cages and traps, drones for aerial surveillance, and conducting joint operations with the Police and Revenue departments.
Acting on the Deputy Chief Minister’s directives, the Forest Department has decided to safely capture the animal and relocate it to the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam.
Field teams comprising experts are patrolling areas identified as high-alert zones. Through public announcements, they are issuing warnings to residents regarding the safety of their livestock and advising them against entering the forest.
Tiger Movements:
As of the morning of March 17, 2026, the presence of the tiger has been most recently confirmed near the Annavaram Hill and adjacent agricultural fields in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh. Forest officials reported that, after being spotted via drone near the forest area situated between Sankhavaram and Annavaram, the tiger crossed the Sankhavaram-Kathipudi road and proceeded through agricultural fields towards Mandapam village.
On the evening of March 16, the presence of the tiger near Annavaram Hill and the Pampa Reservoir was confirmed through VHF tracking and drone surveillance. Consequently, alerts were issued to pilgrims visiting the Annavaram temple. Although this tiger had previously been captured in East Godavari and released into the Papikonda forest, it has since returned to its original habitat.
Under the leadership of DFO Ramachandra Rao, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department has deployed over 100 personnel, organized into 11 “Hanuman Teams.” To track the animal near the fields and hills of Annavaram, authorities are utilizing over 40 trap cameras (equipped with night vision), drones, VHF tracking devices, and cages baited with livestock.
Should the tiger fail to retreat, veterinary experts from the NSTR Tiger Reserve and Rajamahendravaram are preparing tranquilizers to safely capture the animal and relocate it to the Visakhapatnam Zoo. Meanwhile, the police are coordinating efforts to alert the public and minimize potential risks.
. Andhra Pradesh
