Amaravati, January 28, 2026: A roaming tiger has triggered widespread panic among farmers and villagers in the agency areas of Buttayagudem and Koyyalagudem mandals in Eluru district.
Over the past fortnight, the big cat has killed eight cattle and seriously injured two others in villages including Ammapalem, Semaluru Gudem, Puliramanna Gudem, Madhavaram, Lankapalli, Kandrikagudem, and Merakagudem. These fringe settlements near forests report the tiger venturing close to homes and fields, forcing people to limit movements, especially at dawn and dusk.
Financial losses mount quickly for small farmers who rely on livestock for income one lost a buffalo valued at Rs 50,000, calling it their main livelihood source. Some villagers have faced direct encounters while heading to crops. Forest officials confirm the attacks but details on tracking or response remain limited so far.
