Mumbai, August 23: The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has officially declared a male tiger responsible for the deaths of two individuals near Gudalur, specifically in the Loriston area of O-Valley Town Panchayat, as a ‘man-eater.’ This decision was made after conclusive evidence emerged that the tiger had consumed parts of its victims. The department is now working at a rapid pace to capture this tiger, estimated to be between 8 to 10 years old.
Recently, the tiger claimed the lives of two local residents. The body of K. Ravikumar was discovered just 200 meters from his home on Friday afternoon around 2 PM. Earlier, on August 9, the half-eaten body of M. Balakrishnan, aged 58, was found in Field 4 of the Loriston Estate.
District Forest Officer P. Devaraj stated that the presence of injuries on the bodies and evidence of body parts being consumed led to the classification of the tiger as a man-eater. The paw prints found at both locations were identical, confirming that the same tiger was responsible for both attacks.
To safely capture the tiger, the forest department has made special arrangements. Six live bait traps have been set up along potential paths the tiger may take. Four specialized teams have been deployed, with two teams of seven members each searching for the tiger using paw prints and scat, while two other teams are monitoring the area with drones.
Ground teams have been equipped with weapons and safety gear. The department’s primary objective is to tranquilize the tiger for capture. However, if the tiger poses a threat to human life, lethal force may be considered as a last resort.
Camera trap images have not yet provided a clear assessment of the tiger’s health. A thorough examination will only be possible after capture. Following this, the tiger will be sent to either the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur or the wildlife rehabilitation center in Sirumugai, pending approval from Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra.
For safety reasons, estate management has been advised to halt operations in affected areas for a few more days. The forest department has urged local residents to remain indoors at night and to avoid venturing into gardens or forested areas until the tiger is captured.
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