The quiet of Avelthi village shattered Thursday night when Explorer, a male tiger with a known history of movement through the region, attacked two buffaloes in Sankavaram mandal. One animal died in the encounter; another survived the brutal attack.

Key facts

  • Male tiger Explorer attacked two buffaloes in Avelthi village Thursday night
  • One buffalo died, another survived the attack
  • Tiger crossed Godavari river about a week ago from Polavaram district
  • Forest officials sighted the tiger in Rajavommangi on Thursday evening

Tracking the predator

Forest teams are racing to the attack site, intensifying monitoring efforts to alert local residents about the tiger's movements. Kakinada District Forest Officer N. Ramachandra Rao confirmed the incident in an official release Friday, stating that locals reported the nighttime attack.

"Our teams tracking the tiger will rush to the spot where it attacked the cattle and intensify monitoring to alert people about its movements," said Mr. Ramachandra Rao.

A familiar pattern

This isn't Explorer's first journey through the area. The tiger has followed this same route twice since February, creating a pattern that both concerns and helps forest officials. In February, authorities tranquilized the big cat at Kurmapuram in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district before releasing it back into the wild.

Now, with drones buzzing along district borders and teams on high alert, the delicate balance between human settlements and wildlife continues to play out in real time. The forest department's response reflects both the urgency of protecting villagers and the commitment to preserving India's magnificent tiger population.