Andhra Pradesh resumes operation to capture tiger Explorer

Forest officials are preparing to tranquilise the three-year-old tiger after it crossed paddy fields and approached populated areas in East Godavari district.

Authorities spotted the animal near Pasalapudi village, about 30 kilometres from Rajamahendravaram. East Godavari District Forest Officer B. Prabhakar Rao said the tiger travelled more than 30 kilometres across the plains in a day, crossing populated areas. No livestock attacks had been reported in the past few days.

Experts from Pune-based RESQ Trust are expected at the site. They previously tranquilised the same tiger on February 6 in Kurmapuram village. Until they arrive, two forest teams are monitoring its route and alerting residents in nearby villages.

This is the second phase of Operation Stripes. The first operation ended on February 14 after the tiger was released into Papikonda National Park. It has since moved along the Godavari and through the hills in the region.

Forest officials say the tiger has crossed four states—Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh—since December 2025. It has not attacked people since leaving its home range in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. The animal reached the Godavari Valley after swimming across the Pranahita River, a tributary of the Godavari.