Andhra Pradesh Captures Stray Tiger in East Godavari

Forest officials in Andhra Pradesh successfully captured a tiger that had been roaming villages in East Godavari district, easing fears among residents after days of heightened alert. The animal, a young male believed to have originated from forests in Chhattisgarh, entered the state via Telangana on January 21 and triggered panic through livestock killings and close encounters with human settlements.

The tiger's movements began drawing attention in late January as it crossed into Andhra Pradesh, navigating agricultural fields and villages in Eluru and East Godavari districts. By early February, it had reached areas near Rajahmundry, where it killed three cows and a calf in Thorredu village of Rajahmundry rural mandal. Witnesses reported sightings near Auto Nagar, between the populated neighborhoods of Lalacheruvu and Diwancheruvu, and fresh pugmarks were later found near the Ankalammathalli temple hillock. A video captured by motorists showed the tiger scaling a compound wall at a wedding hall on the city's outskirts, amplifying public concerns about safety in densely inhabited zones.

Residents in Kurmapuram village of Rayavaram mandal endured six tense days, with growling...