Narayanpatna (Koraput): High alert has been sounded in Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon localities of Koraput district after a Royal Bengal Tiger was spotted roaming in the border areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

According to sources, the tiger has killed a bullock at Jhankarikarili village of Kapoloda panchayat in Koraput.

A team from the Forest department led by Narayanpatna Ranger AK Padhi inspected the spot and asked the villagers to remain alert to avoid any untoward incident.

Padhi has informed the incident to Forest department officials of Parvathipuram Manyam district in Andhra Pradesh.

At least five foresters have been deputed to several border villages to create awareness regarding the movement of the big cat, sources said.

“There is no clarity regarding the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger. It is being suspected that the tiger might have come from a forest in Andhra Pradesh. We have installed cameras at several places to track the movement of the tiger. The pugmarks are suggesting that it is a male tiger. We are in constant touch with our counterparts in Andhra Pradesh,” Padhi said.