The search for the tiger that killed a man at Kalikavu continued for the second day on Saturday. It was on Thursday morning that Gafoor Ali, 44, was fatally attacked by the tiger while he was tapping rubber at a plantation that he leased at Adakkakundu, Kalikavu.
Even though the animal evaded the forest search team, it was caught in a camera trap set by the forest staff on Friday night. The adult tiger, presumably eight or 10 years old, was captured in the camera set in the private plantation area where Gafoor was attacked on Thursday.
Kalikavu Forest Range Officer P. Rajeev said that the tiger found in the camera was within the database of the Silent Valley National Park. Kalikavu forest range is contiguous to the woods that form buffer for Silent Valley National Park.
The private plantations where the attack occurred had dense undergrowth, making it easier for the wild animals to enter the area.
Mr. Rajeev said that the search would continue on Sunday. The search group consists of more than 50 members divided into three teams. Kumki elephants too are assisting the forest staff in the search.
The plan is to tranquilise and capture the tiger without causing harm if possible. However, the teams are prepared for extreme circumstances where self-defence might be necessary, and shooting the tiger may become an unavoidable option.
DFO transferred
Meanwhile, Nilambur South Divisional Forest Officer Dhanik Lal was transferred to forest headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram even as he was leading the tiger hunt.
Although the Forest Department says that the transfer was in connection with a vigilance case at Muvattupuzha, political hands were alleged to be behind the move.
Published – May 17, 2025 09:03 pm IST
