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Tiger Hunt Continues in Kerala Plantations
20 Jul
Summary
- A tiger has been straying into human areas for over two months.
- Special teams are tracking the tiger from tea plantations near reserve forests.
- Once captured, the tiger will be permanently relocated to a zoo.
Forest officials in Kerala are engaged in an extensive, months-long operation to tranquillize a tiger that has been venturing into human settlements near Arnakkal for the past two and a half months. A special Rapid Response Team (RRT) from Wayanad has been deployed to assist in the efforts. The tiger is reportedly residing in tea plantations adjacent to the Ranni Reserve Forest, attacking cattle in the early morning hours.
Tracking the elusive big cat is challenging due to thick undergrowth in abandoned tea estates, which provide ample cover. The Forest department is establishing tree houses to monitor its movements. This tiger was previously captured from Munnar and released into the Periyar Tiger Reserve on April 2 but began returning to human areas by the last week of April.
Authorities confirmed that once the tiger is successfully darted, it will be permanently housed in a zoo. This decision stems from a previous unsuccessful attempt to reintroduce the animal into the wild, after which it returned to inhabited areas. Officials are hopeful of darting the animal soon, as they closely monitor its movements.
