On June 23, a male tiger was captured from a human settlement in the Kenichira locality of Chethalayath forest range under South Wayanad Forest Division in Kerala amidst panic among locals.
For several days now, this adult tiger has been causing panic at the village by killing many domestic animals. Its capture comes as a huge relief to the villagers.
At around 11 p.m. Sunday night, A team of forest officials led by South Wayanad Forest Divisional Officer P. Ranjith had placed a cage near a cattle shed where the animal had reportedly killed a cow two days earlier at Kenichira and it walked into it.
Two cages have been set up
To capture the animal, the officers had arranged for two cages to be positioned at different locations and mounted security cameras to monitor its movements. Similarly, they also conducted combing operations in search of it on Sunday on coffee plantations in the area.
The predator was shifted to nearby Irulam forest station last night. After being examined by veterinary experts, it may be transferred to Sulthan Bathery’s animal hospice and palliative care unit for big cats.
According to information provided by authority of the Forest department, The animal has suffered injury and loss of left canine tooth
It will only become clear after 24-hour medical observation whether or not the animal is healthy,” said Mr. Ranjith to The Hindu newspaper. According to him, “it lost its canine and sustained wounds which might have driven it to preying on domestic animals from human habitat.”
Tholpetty -17 is identified as t he animal which is resident at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary where more than half of all tigers currently live in Kerala.
