Trap cages placed in Yadadri as NTCA cautions against catching tiger
HYDERABAD: The free-ranging days of a tiger that entered Yadadri-Bhongir district after travelling more than 450 km from Maharashtra may be nearing an end, with forest officials placing trap cages near Dattaipally village, where the animal last killed a cow two days ago.
Forest department officials said the cages were installed primarily to reassure local residents, and not with the intention of capturing the tiger. The animal has remained in the district for the past 11 days and has not shown signs of moving away.
However, a senior official of the National Tiger Conservation Authority said established protocols do not mandate trapping or capturing tigers that are exploring new landscapes in search of territory.
The official said the tiger appeared to be dispersing naturally and had accessed an area where tigers had not been reported earlier. “What is required is close monitoring of its movements and mapping where it may head next. This is not a conflict animal, and trapping is not recommended,” the official told reporters.
The NTCA official added that cattle kills were occurring because the tiger was moving through a landscape lacking its natural prey base, such as deer. “Any precipitate action is not allowed unless the animal turns into a conflict tiger,” the official said.
Relocation plan if cage succeeds
Forest officials acknowledged some confusion over the purpose of the trap cages. One official said that if the tiger were caught, it would be relocated to the Kawal Tiger Reserve, through which it had passed earlier during its journey from Yadadri tiger
“A radio collar could then be fitted, which would provide valuable data on its movements and interactions,” the official said.
The tiger fed on the cow it killed near Dattaipally village during the night on Tuesday, providing some relief to forest staff who hope it will not make another kill immediately. Officials said the animal appeared to be sheltering in scrub forest with rocky outcrops near the village, and its movements were being closely watched.
Plans include using a thermal drone later on Wednesday night to locate the tiger and track its movements.
Experts warn against disturbance
According to Bilal Habib, senior scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India, repeated cattle kills indicate disturbance to the tiger, likely before it could feed fully.
“Making a kill and abandoning it is not normal tiger behaviour,” he said, adding that kill sites should not be disturbed to avoid further stress to the animal.
Meanwhile, forest officials said sarpanches of 15 surrounding villages had been alerted, and residents were advised not to venture out after sundown. Village heads were asked to immediately report any fresh cattle kills to the forest department or the police to help track the tiger’s movements.
