Gudalur, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has initiated a campaign to capture a tiger that has been encroaching on residential and agricultural areas in Gudalur. The animal has been spotted near the Vimalagiri area close to Nambalacottai in the Nilgiri district.
To monitor the tiger, two traps have been strategically placed, along with 25 camera traps to keep an eye on its movements. Additional forest personnel have been deployed to prevent any conflicts between the tiger and local residents.
Officials clarified that the tiger roaming in Vimalagiri is not the suspected man-eater linked to two fatalities in the O-Valley forest range. Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra has granted separate permissions for capturing both animals.
Reports indicate that the Vimalagiri tiger has been entering populated areas even during the day. It has killed livestock in Makkamoola, Ambalakadu, and Vimalagiri, causing significant alarm among the locals. There have also been sightings of the tiger near a primary school.
Residents have shared photos of the tiger visiting their settlements over the past week and are urging immediate action.
Forest officials have advised farmers not to leave livestock unattended while grazing. They recommend keeping animals in secure shelters, especially when the tiger is suspected to be in the vicinity.
P. Devaraj, the Divisional Forest Officer of Gudalur, stated that the department decided to act swiftly due to the limited forest area in Vimalagiri, which is primarily residential and agricultural land, increasing the likelihood of encounters with people.
Veterinarians may tranquilize the tiger if its location and conditions allow for safe intervention. Officials also noted that the animal could potentially head toward the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, located less than five kilometers away.
Meanwhile, forest personnel searching for the suspected man-eater in O-Valley received reports from locals about the tiger’s presence, but they could not confirm if it was the same animal involved in the fatal attacks.
P. Devaraj mentioned that officials only had a partial glimpse of the tiger before it disappeared among the rocks. Surveillance operations continue in both Vimalagiri and O-Valley, with teams working to ensure community safety while identifying and capturing both tigers.
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