Amaravati, Feb 6, 2026 (PingTV News): In a high-stakes wildlife operation that kept East Godavari on edge for nearly a week, Andhra Pradesh forest officials successfully captured a Bengal tiger on Friday evening. The big cat, which had been terrorizing villages near Rajahmundry for the last six days, was finally neutralized in Kurmapuram village, Rayavaram mandal.
The successful capture—internally dubbed “Operation Jack”—has brought massive relief to thousands of residents who had been living under a self-imposed lockdown since the tiger first appeared in the region.
The Final Stand at Kurmapuram
The operation reached its climax on Friday morning when locals spotted the tiger in the backyard of a deserted house in Kurmapuram. As news spread, a massive crowd gathered, causing the frightened animal to bolt from the house, dash through agricultural fields, and seek refuge in a nearby cattle shed.
Remarkably, despite the presence of two buffaloes in the shed, the tiger did not attack. Under the supervision of District Forest Officer (DFO) B. Prabhakara Rao, expert teams deployed tranquilizers.
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The Shot: After two misses, a third tranquilizer dart successfully hit the tiger.
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The Capture: The sedated animal attempted to flee toward a local lake (Kotha Cheruvu) before the sedative took full effect, allowing teams to safely secure it.
Expert Coordination and Search Efforts
The six-day hunt was no small feat. The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department collaborated with:
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A specialized rescue team from the RESQ Trust, Pune.
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Specialized drone teams and thermal imaging units.
Authorities had installed 25 trap cameras and multiple cages across potential routes. Schools in Rajanagaram, Seethanagaram, and Korukonda mandals had previously been granted holidays as a safety precaution.
The Trail of the Maharashtra Migrant
Wildlife officials believe the tiger is a sub-adult male native to the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. The animal reportedly embarked on a massive journey, crossing through Telangana and Chhattisgarh before entering Andhra Pradesh.
While the tiger killed eight cattle during its six-day stay near Rajahmundry, officials confirmed there were no human casualties. Experts suggest the tiger may have been pushed into human settlements due to habitat fragmentation or in search of easier prey.
What’s Next for the Big Cat?
Following the capture, the tiger was carefully crated and is being transported to the Visakhapatnam Zoo (Indira Gandhi Zoological Park) for medical evaluation and observation. A committee will later decide whether the animal is fit for relocation back into a deep forest reserve or if it requires permanent care.
Stay tuned to PingTV for more updates on the tiger’s health and its journey to the Vizag Zoo.
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