After a 10-day long search, a rapid response team (RRT) of the Forest department captured a missing tiger that had strayed into a residential area at Amarakuni in Kerala’s Wayanad district. The tiger was caught in a cage trap set at Thoopra in Pulpally panchayat around 11.30 pm on Thursday (January 16, 2025).
Forest Department sources said the animal was tired and had a wound on its left paw. It has been taken to Irulam forest station for further care.
Five goats were killed
For more than a week, the tiger roamed the various coffee plantations in Pulpally-Amarakuni areas. It is reported that it has killed five goats, causing fear among the people of the area. The Wayanad district administration has declared holidays in several local schools, besides issuing prohibitory orders to tighten security measures.
It was on January 7 that villagers first saw the animal near a coffee farm in Amarakuni. Since then, members of the RRT have camped in the area to take action.
Following the direction of South Wayanad Forest Officer Ajith. K. Raman, they had set traps at about four places to trap the animal. Also, drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras have been deployed to detect their exact location so that quick action can be taken.
During the search, there were also protests on the part of the farmers complaining about the indifference of the Ministry of Forestry for capturing this mysterious animal in advanced ways. They also criticized senior officials for using conventional missiles instead of airsoft missiles.
Published – January 17, 2025 09:44 am IST