Residents of East Godavari district finally breathed a sigh of relief on Friday, February 6, 2026, as forest officials successfully captured the Royal Bengal Tiger that had been spreading terror for the past six days. The high-stakes mission, dubbed “Operation Jack,” concluded near Kotha Cheruvu after the tiger was tracked to an abandoned house in Kurmapuram. A specialized rescue team, which included experts from Pune, used tranquilizer darts to subdue the feline before safely securing it in a cage.
The tiger’s presence had caused widespread panic in the Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry) region, leading to the closure of local schools and keeping residents indoors. The predator had been frequently attacking livestock, including recent strikes on cattle in Bhupalapatnam and G. Yerrampalem. To lure the animal out, officials employed a strategic setup involving fencing and high-intensity floodlights, which eventually forced the tiger into the open where the rescue team could get a clear shot with the anesthetic injection.
Following its capture, the tiger was transported under medical supervision to the Visakhapatnam Zoo for further observation and care. Forest officials confirmed that the operation was carried out with extreme caution to ensure no harm came to either the public or the animal. Local villagers, who had spent nearly a week in constant fear of palm oil plantation attacks, expressed their gratitude to the forest department and the specialized rescue squads for successfully resolving the crisis.
