Johnny, a male tiger, has made an remarkable 300-kilometre journey from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra to Telangana, likely in search of a mate. His journey, tracked by a radio collar, took him through forests and farmland, passing through Adilabad and Nirmal districts.

Johnny, who’s around six to eight years old, began his trek in the third week of October from Kinwat taluka in Maharashtra. Forest officials first spotted him in Boath mandal in Adilabad, and he continued through areas like Kuntala, Sarangapur, and Pembi in Nirmal. Along the way, he crossed the busy Hyderabad-Nagpur highway and is now believed to be heading toward Tiryani.

Adilabad district forest officer Prashanth Bajirao Patil stated that Johnny’s journey is pushed by the instinct of male tigers to look out for mates during winter, which is their mating season.“Male tigers often embark on long journeys when they cannot find a mate in their territory,” Patil added.

Male tigers have a special ability to sense the scent of female tigers from as far as 100 kilometres away, helping them find potential mates. But Johnny’s journey hasn’t been only focused on finding a companion. Along the way, he has been involved in killing five cattle and has tried to hunt cows on three different occasions during his trip across states.

Forest officials confirmed that tigers' search for mates does not cause direct harm to humans. However, they have advised residents to avoid confronting the animal and to stay calm. Johnny’s current route may take him toward the Kawal Tiger Reserve, an area that has faced challenges in maintaining a stable tiger population. While migrating tigers often pass through the reserve, no tiger has settled there permanently since 2022.

Chief wildlife warden Elusing Meru said that if Johnny settles in Kawal Tiger Reserve, it would be a big boost for the area. Meru said, “If Johnny moves to KTR’s core area, it will be a turning point,” while also acknowledging the challenges faced by the reserve, such as poaching and habitat degradation.