Gudalur Tiger Operation Enters 8th Day; Second Big Cat Monitored
The operation to capture a tiger believed to have killed two persons in Gudalur entered its eighth day on Friday (August 28). The Forest department said it is also monitoring another big cat that has been spotted near Athipalli a few days ago.
Speaking to The Hindu, Divisional Forest Officer (Gudalur Division) P. Devaraj said they have received information about the presence of a second tiger in Athipalli and are actively monitoring the situation. The department is considering placing cages in the area to trap the animal, which has so far had no negative interactions with humans.
To support the search for the tiger, which is believed to be responsible for the deaths of two people in O'Valley, the Forest department has brought in two kumki elephants, Udhayan and Bomman. Officials said the elephants are being used to help track the animal in the dense forest terrain, which is marked by thick vegetation and hilly slopes. The department has also been sharing information about the operation with local residents and has arranged for the safe commute of schoolchildren.
Two teams of the Forest Elite Force have been deployed around human settlements to monitor for any sign of the animal and to assist search operations. The department has placed 130 camera traps across the region to understand the animal's movements. A clear image obtained a few days ago confirmed that the tiger is a male known to inhabit the area.
Despite the placement of 13 cages at strategic locations, the animal has so far evaded capture. There are concerns that the tiger may have moved out of O'Valley into surrounding forest ranges. Consequently, surveillance has been increased in the Naduvattam forest range in Nilgiris, as well as in Singara and Masinagudi in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).
The Forest department has been working round the clock since the first death was reported in O'Valley earlier this month. Efforts have been redoubled to prevent people from entering heavily wooded areas, especially after dark. Field staff have been stationed at key points to guide residents and prevent any untoward incident. Residents who need to venture into Section 17 lands for irrigation or agriculture have been urged to contact field staff for assistance.
The department has also appealed to the public to stay vigilant and report any tiger sightings to the nearest forest office immediately. Local authorities are coordinating with the forest department to manage the situation and ensure that daily activities are not unduly disrupted.
The presence of a second tiger near Athipalli has added to the complexity of the operation. While this animal is not suspected in the human attacks, its presence has prompted the department to extend monitoring efforts to that area as well. Officials have said that both animals are being tracked, with separate strategies being considered for each.
The operation is being carried out with the help of advanced surveillance equipment, including motion-sensitive camera traps, officials said. The focus remains on safely locating and capturing the tiger, while ensuring the protection of human life. The Forest department said it continues to review its strategy based on inputs from field teams, with the safety of residents and the well-being of the animal as the foremost considerations.
