The adult male tiger, Explorer, which had entered Andhra Pradesh earlier from the forests of Tadoba in Maharashtra after covering parts of Telangana earlier this year, seems to have adapted to the Godavari landscape.

Tranquilised at Kurmapuram village in East Godavari district on February 6, the tiger was released into Papikonda National Park on February 14, following the directives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority. 

It has returned again to East Godavari district by crossing the Godavari River in search of streams and prey. However, it never attacked any human since it left its native landscape of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, in Maharashtra in December 2025.

Since February 14, the tiger has returned to East Godavari district twice by crossing the Godavari River.

“The tiger has been walking along the waterbodies without confining to any particular location, making it difficult for tranquilisation. It has been prowling in the hilly areas abutting Munagala village in Korukonda mandal of East Godavari district since April 22 night,” East Godavari District Forest Officer B. Prabhakara Rao told The Hindu on Friday, adding that no cattle kills by the tiger has been reported in the past 48 hours. 

“Given the scorching heat, the tiger is spending the entire day in waterbodies. The conservation protocols do not allow the tranquilisation of an animal in a waterbody,” Mr. Prabhakara Rao said. 

By April 6, the tiger covered more than 650 km during its 53-day prowl in the four States of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.