Tiger Johnny Travels 300 km Across States in Search of Mate

A male tiger named Johnny has traveled over 300 km across two states in search of a mate. Originating from Kinwat in Maharashtra’s Nanded district, Johnny is currently moving through Adilabad and Nirmal districts in Telangana. His journey, which began in the third week of October, has taken nearly 30 days to complete. His journey is being tracked by a radio collar. 

Winter is the mating season for tigers, and male tigers often travel long distances to find a female if none are available in their home territory. According to Prashanti B Patil, the District Forest Officer, male tigers from Maharashtra commonly migrate to the forests of the Adilabad region during winter in search of mates. Johnny, already more than 300 km into his journey, is expected to find a female tiger soon.

A screengrab of Johnny on his search for a mate

The seven-year-old tiger has been spotted in several areas, including Boath in Adilabad and Kuntala, Sarangapur, Mamada, and Pembi in Nirmal. During his travels, he is also reported to have killed five cattle. In Utnoor, Johnny was seen crossing a road near Laltekdi village, heading towards Narnoor. Forest officials are on alert but reassure locals that tigers seeking mates do not pose a danger to humans, though they advise people not to confront the animal. Johnny’s journey sheds light on the long-distance migration habits of tigers in search of a mate.