Malkangiri: A Royal Bengal Tiger from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has entered Odisha’s Malkangiri district and is roaming in the Motu region, sparking panic among the local people, forest officials said Monday.
The information was first provided by forest officials in Andhra Pradesh, who said that the four-year-old tiger from the Papikondalu landscape has entered Odisha.
“The tiger has been fitted with a radio collar and is being monitored by us through satellite and very high frequency (VHF) tracking systems. We appeal to people not to harm the animal and assist the administration,” Malkangiri Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sai Kiran DN, told reporters here.
He said the Malkangiri forest division has stepped up surveillance and launched an extensive search operation along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border. Forest officials are closely monitoring the movement of the big cat, the DFO said, adding that villagers are being alerted through the public address system not to venture into the jungle and to remain in their villages.
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have also been deployed in the area to respond to any emergency. The people living in villages along the inter-state border have been advised to remain cautious, avoid venturing into forest areas unnecessarily and immediately report any sighting or movement of the tiger to forest officials.
The DFO said that the prescribed protocols under the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) Standard Operating Procedure were being followed for tracking and monitoring the tiger in fringe areas. He said that the government would provide adequate compensation in case of any cattle being killed by the tiger.
