Malkangiri: Even as the impending Cyclone Murasu has put Malkangiri on alert, the southern district in Odisha faces another completely different threat.
A Royal Bengal Tiger crossed over from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh into Malkangiri district and is learnt to be roaming in the Motu forest range, sparking panic among local people, forest officials said on Monday.
Forest officials in Andhra’s Papikondalu landscape initially informed foresters in Odisha that a four-year-old tiger has entered Odisha.
“The tiger is fitted with a radio collar and is being monitored by us through satellite and very high frequency (VHF) tracking systems. We appeal to people not to harm the animal and assist the administration,” Malkangiri Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sai Kiran DN told reporters.
He said the Malkangiri forest division has stepped up surveillance and launched an extensive search operation along the Andhra-Odisha border.
Forest officials are closely monitoring movement of the big cat, and villagers are being alerted through the public address system not to venture into the jungle, remain in their villages and report any sighting or movement of the tiger to forest officials.
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed in the area to respond to any emergency. The people living in villages along the inter-state border have been advised to remain cautious, avoid venturing into forest areas unnecessarily and immediately report any sighting or movement of the tiger to forest officials.
