A male tiger, Explorer, roams the Rajavommangi forest area in Polavaram district. Photo: Special Arrangement
The Forest Department has launched a search operation to tranquilise a male tiger named Explorer after it reportedly killed nine cattle in two villages in the Rajavommangi forest area in Polavaram district on May 27, 2026. However, no attacks on humans have been reported.
In an official statement, Chief Conservator of Forests (Rajahmundry) Th. Jyothi said: “The tiger had killed nine cattle including eight cattle in Pedarelangipadu and Chikilintha villages and one animal in Vathangi Beat in the Rajavommangi Forest Range”.
Earlier, the tiger was tranquilised On February 6 at Kurmapuram village in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema District, and was later released in the Papikonda National Park on February 14 after a week at the Animal Rescue Centre in Visakhapatnam.
To prevent any untoward incidents in the tribal habitations, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Forests and Environment K. Pawan Kalyan directed the Forest Department authorities to capture the tiger.
“We have deployed personnel, wildlife experts, veterinary teams, and are coordinating with the locals and police authorities for the effective management of the situation and tranquilisation”, said Ms. Jyothi.
Published – May 29, 2026 09:25 pm IST
