Forest Department Intensifies Operation to Capture or Push Back Tiger in Wayanad

Wayanad: The Kerala Forest department on Wednesday said it was making all efforts to cage or drive back into the jungle a tiger which strayed into populated areas of the hill district two days ago from the nearby Pathiri reserve.

Forest Minister A. K. Saseendran told reporters that officials and field staff are working continuously to safely manage the situation and capture the tiger. He said the government has issued orders permitting the tranquilisation of the animal, which will be carried out if required, based on the circumstances and the location where the tiger is spotted.

The presence of the tiger has caused concern in Panamaram panchayat and nearby areas. As a precaution, schools have been closed and residents have been advised to stay indoors, a senior forest official said.

The official said that the five-year-old tiger has not shown any aggressive behaviour till now and there has been no conflict with the general populace. "It has only shown straying behaviour," he said.

The official further said the forest department’s first priority is to drive the tiger back into the forest or capture it safely. If these efforts do not succeed, veterinary doctors are ready to tranquilise the animal.

A large-scale search and monitoring operation is currently in progress, with the deployment of hundreds of forest personnel, Rapid Response Teams, trained kumki elephants used for wildlife management, and thermal cameras to track the tiger’s movement.