Tiger on the prowl in Wayanad caught in forest department trap

Sulthan Bathery: Forest department staff heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday evening, when the problematic tiger (Tholppetty 7) which wreaked terror in human habitats at Kenichira near here, killing four cows in two days, was captured Sunday evening. The animal had fallen into the trap set by the forest department at Kizhakkeyil Sabu on Sunday around 11 p.m. After a primary examination, the animal was shifted to the Irulam forest office premises that same night.

According to senior forest officials, the animal would be shifted to animal care centers only after a thorough medical examination by expert veterinarians, as it was suffering from serious injuries.

The animal visited Maliyekkal Benny’s stable three times on Sunday evening where it killed two cows on Saturday. In an attempt to ward it off, forest department personnel had to fire rubber bullets at the animal which ran into the darkness.

The rapid response team (RRT) monitored the area throughout the night when the tiger triggered panic. The district collector had issued prohibitory orders in Poothadi Panchayath to regulate human movement in the area.

Public outcry and efforts to capture
On Sunday, farmers and local residents staged a protest by blocking the Sulthan Bathery-Mananthavadi road in an attempt to capture the tiger. As the protest continued, Forest Minister AK Saseendran ordered wildlife officials to take necessary steps to capture the tiger. Collector Renu Raj said if the animal could not be caged, steps would be taken to catch it after tranquilizing it. The wildlife protection official has been ordered to immediately grant permission in this regard after completing the necessary legal procedures, an official statement quoted her as saying. Senior officials of the Wildlife Department rushed to the spot and assured the villagers that necessary steps would be taken immediately to calm the animal. Steps have already been taken to bring rapid response team personnel to the scene as part of the mission to capture the animal, they said.

Farmers want compensation
Forest officials also said that Rs 30,000 would be paid as advance solatium to farmers who lost their cows in the tiger attack. The rest of the amount will be given to them after completing the post-mortem procedures of the cow carcasses, they added.
(With PTI inputs)