Residents of Odisha's Gajapati district are living in fear as a Royal Bengal Tiger, believed to have strayed from neighboring Andhra Pradesh, roams the Mahendragiri forest range. The tiger's presence became apparent when villagers in Santoshpur near Gandahati reported the loss of two cows to the big cat. Forest department officials launched an investigation, confirming the tiger's presence through paw marks and camera footage.
To ensure the safety of both residents and domestic animals, the Forest department has been actively tracking the tiger's movements and raising awareness among villagers. They have advised people to stay indoors after sunset and secure their animals in sheds. Villagers have complied with these safety measures, and the region now wears a deserted look after dark.
PCCF (Wildlife) Sushil Kumar Popli confirmed that this is the same tiger that had previously ventured into the area. The Odisha government is taking extensive measures for tiger conservation, including the use of camera traps and special tracking units to monitor the tiger's movements. Additionally, the government is compensating for the loss caused by these tiger encounters.