Four days after a tiger carcass was found in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), authorities arrested seven persons suspected of being poachers at Giddalur in Markapuram district on Tuesday. Giddalur Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Gundlakamma Forest Range Officer (FRO), Assistant Range Officer (ARO), NSTR veterinarian and forest staff were part of the operation initiated to track down the culprits.

The carcass of an adult tiger was found in Racherla forest beat under Giddalur division on July 31, 2026. After post-mortem, the Forest staff collected the samples and sent them for forensic analysis. As per the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forests K. Pawan Kalyan, a detailed investigation was initiated by the teams.

A case has been booked under Wildlife Protection Act 1972. After a detailed inquiry by multiple teams, with the help of dog squad and technological support, seven persons have been taken into custody. The officials recovered seven tiger claws, limb bones, a country made fire arm and an axe from the accused.

Giddalur Project Tiger Division Deputy Director Nisha Kumari said, “The Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife (HANUMAN) project team played a key role in the investigation. I would also like to extend thanks to Markapuram district Superintendent of Police (SP) V. Harshavadhan Raju and police officials for their active support in the case. Further probe in the case will continue.”

Published - August 05, 2026 07:24 pm IST