India's National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given the go-ahead to release a transient adult tiger native to Central India back into the wild. The expert committee made this decision on February 10, 2026, after thorough discussions. The tiger had been held at the Animal Rescue Centre (ARC), but experts felt it was no longer safe to keep it there as it risked developing a ‘human imprint’ that could change its natural behavior. The big cat had wandered more than 650 kilometers over 53 days through Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh without attacking any humans. Wildlife experts described the tiger as ‘innocent’ during this journey. On February 6, wildlife staff from Rajahmundry and Pune-based RESQ Trust successfully tranquilised the tiger in Kurmapuram village of East Godavari district. This careful and safe capture was part of an operation named ‘STRIPES’. The operation ended without harm to the tiger or humans involved. The exact forest where the tiger will be released will be decided soon by authorities. Frontline forest staff praised local community support as key to the operation’s success. Andhra Pradesh wildlife experts welcome NTCA’s decision, seeing it as a positive step toward stronger tiger conservation efforts in the state.