Warangal: Panic has gripped villages near the Medaram-Mahadevpur forest border following the suspected killing of a buffalo by a tiger. Forest officials confirmed the presence of pugmarks and other signs indicating a tiger attack, prompting intensified surveillance and patrols across forested areas in Mulugu and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts.A search operation has been launched to track the tiger’s movements. Forest staff are combing locations including Bayyakkapet, Kalvapalli, and Narlapur in Tadvai Mandal, as well as Ailapur in Kannaigudem Mandal and Kondai in Eturnagaram Mandal. Locals in these villages have been advised to stay cautious and alert but not to panic.Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mulugu district forest officer Rahul Kishan Jadhav explained that the region’s dense forests, hilly terrain, and water bodies provide an ideal habitat for wildlife, including prey species like leopards, wild boars, sambar deer, and mountain goats — making it suitable for tiger movement.The Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, part of this ecological zone, is connected to key tiger reserves such as Tadoba-Andhari in Maharashtra and Indravati in Chhattisgarh. This corridor facilitates regular movement of tigers between these regions. Occasional tiger sightings have also been reported in the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary in Warangal district.According to officials, tiger movement in search of food and territory has increased since December, with big cats now being spotted more frequently in Mulugu, Mahbubabad, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Asifabad districts. Eturnagaram, in particular, has emerged as a critical zone for tiger activity in the erstwhile Warangal region.Forest officials have urged residents living near forest areas to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary entry into forests, and report any unusual animal activity to authorities immediately.
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