Farmers warned not to place electrified wires, traps to harm big cat

Hyderabad: The Telangana forest department on Friday warned people in the border areas of three districts – Jangaon, Yadadri-Bhongir and Siddipet – not to install electric fences or traps in their fields when the roaming tiger is roaming in the region.

The tiger, which was reported by the forest department to have started its journey from Pandharkawada near Tipeshwar wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra, not far from the Telangana border, has been moving in the state since late November last year and the ongoing exercise is the longest ever tracking of a tiger in Telangana.

As on Friday, tiger pug tracks were found in the foothills of Raghunathpally Mandelagudem Mandelagudem in Jangaon district, the forest department said. “The animal was wandering in a field at the junction of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Siddipet and Jangaon districts,” the ministry said.

He said divisional forest officers in the three districts have been put on high alert and residents of Lingala Ghanpur, Raghunathpally, Narmetta, Jangaon, Devaruppula and Tarigoppula mandals have been warned not to go out after dark.

Since there was no prey such as deer in the area, the tiger was hunting cattle, killing eight people so far. Foresters advised cattle owners to ensure that their animals are safe in safe shelters. In case another cattle is killed, the ministry said that the cattle owner will be provided with on-the-spot compensation for the loss as per the established norms.

Due to latent fears of someone falling into the sea and the practice of farmers laying live electric cables and traps to prevent wild boars from entering their fields, the forest department said, “Farmers are strictly prohibited from laying live electric cables or traps as they pose a danger to both the tiger and the public.”

The ministry also said that only a lone tiger was roaming around and not “multiple tigers” as reported in some sections of the media, or that the tiger was also “territorial marking”.

infographics

Dealing with a prowling tiger

public safety consultancy

Restrict movement: Avoid going out unnecessarily, especially at night. If travel is unavoidable, do so in large groups.

Livestock: Make sure cattle are secured in safe shelters.

Safety: Do not install live electrical wires or traps; These pose a danger to the public and the tiger.

Operational Response

Expert Assistance” Wildlife rescue team, a dedicated team from RES-Q, Pune, helps in real-time monitoring and assessment.

Crowd control: Police and revenue departments have sought help in managing crowds, especially near cattle killing grounds, to ensure the tiger is not disturbed if it returns to feed

Capture option: “If the situation warrants” capture will be evaluated under strict NTCA standard operating procedures.