The tiger prowling in the forests of Eluru district reportedly killed a calf in Pandugudem village of Buttaigudem mandal. The animal also killed two cows in the forests at Mangapathidevipeta village in Kannapuram range two days ago.

Forest department officials said that the tiger attacked the cattle in Pandugudem village on Friday night and killed the calf.

A team of officials, including Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) T. Asha Jyothi, Eluru District Forest Officer (DFO) P.V. Sandeep Reddy and Rajamahendravaram DFO Prabhakar Rao, visited the forests in Jangareddygudem and Buttaigudem.

“The tiger is moving through the reserve forest near Marlagudem village in Jangareddygudem range. An expert team from Wardha in Maharashtra is trying to trap the animal,” Jangareddygudem Forest Range Officer (FRO) Kumar Babu told The Hindu on Saturday.

Nearly 30 Forest department staff were involved in the operation to trap the animal. Officials and the expert team arranged traps and are monitoring the movements of the tiger through CCTVs, the FRO said.

“Villagers are living in constant fear due to the movement of the tiger that killed three cattle in the last three days. Residents have remained indoors for the last few days, and children are not going to schools in Koyyalagudem, Lakshmanudugudem, Pandugudem, Kangalavarigudem and other villages,” said Ch. Nageswara Rao, a villager.

“Agriculture work is in full swing in the villages as monsoon has started. However, farmers are hesitant to go to the fields due to fear of the tiger lurking in the forests,” said A. Surya Chandram, a farmer from Mangapathidevaipeta village.

“We request the villagers not to move alone during nights. Tom-tom has been arranged in Koyyalagudem, Buttaigudem, Kannapuram and other areas where tiger movement has been traced,” said Jangareddygudem Sub-DFO Venkata Subbaiah.

Meanwhile, heavy rains that have been lashing the forests for the last few days have been hampering the operation to trap the tiger, the officers said.