Serial Tiger Mortalities in NSTR Trigger High-Level Poaching Investigation
Forest officials have recovered two tiger carcasses within 72 hours inside the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Evidence of missing limbs and claws on the second animal suggests illegal poaching activity.
Key takeaways
- Two adult tigers were found dead in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve within a 72-hour window in late July and early August 2026.
- The second tiger discovered in the Racherla Forest Beat was missing its limbs and claws, prompting a poaching investigation.
- Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan has ordered a transparent probe and mandated increased field-level vigilance to protect the reserve's biodiversity.
- Samples have been sent for forensic analysis following NTCA post-mortem protocols to rule out poisoning or other human-led mischief.
Back-to-Back Carcasses Discovered in NSTR
Authorities at the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) are confronting a sudden spike in feline mortality following the discovery of two dead tigers in less than three days. The first carcass, a tigress, was located on Wednesday, July 30, within the Nandikotkur Reserved Forest of the Nandyal division. By Friday, August 1, a second adult tiger was found dead in the Racherla Forest Beat under the Giddalur division.
Evidence Points to Potential Poaching
Nisha Kumari, Deputy Director of the Project Tiger Division in Giddalur, confirmed that the Gundlakamma Forest Range Officer initially reported the Racherla discovery. A preliminary inspection revealed that the tiger's limbs and claws were missing, a common indicator of targeted poaching for illegal wildlife trade. In response, officials registered a formal offense case under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Veterinary teams performed a post-mortem examination strictly adhering to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocols. Forensic samples have been dispatched for laboratory analysis to determine the precise cause of death, while investigators probe the possibility of poisoning or other human interference. The forest department has not yet confirmed the cremation status of the remains.
State Government Mandates Enhanced Vigilance
The cluster of deaths prompted a direct intervention from Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan. Through a statement on the social media platform X, the Minister expressed grave concern over the impact these losses have on the ecological balance. He has ordered the NSTR Field Director to maintain total transparency throughout the inquiry.
To mitigate further risks to the reserve's biodiversity, the Deputy CM issued the following directives to the Forest Department:
- Immediate intensification of patrolling across all vulnerable forest sectors.
- Strengthening of field-level intelligence and monitoring networks.
- Strict disciplinary action against any personnel found negligent in their duties.
The government maintains that the investigation will look into all variables, including natural causes, to ensure the long-term survival of the tiger population in Andhra Pradesh.
Source: The Hindu — National
Related stories
Telangana RERA Grants Four-Month Project Extension Citing West Asia Conflict
Monsoon Surge Triggers Red Alerts and Rising Reservoir Inflows Across Malnad Region
Thiruvananthapuram Street Takeover: Reclaiming Public Space for Women at Midnight
