After week-long hunt, Nilgiris tiger killed in joint operation

Three teams drawn from forest and police departments and Special Task Force were on the job to catch the tiger, which had deep cuts on its leg and abdomen, after it killed the worker from Jharkhand on March 11. 

The department had installed 10 cameras and six cages at strategic locations to capture the tiger’s movements and trap it. The forces, numbering nearly 150 were monitoring round the clock its movement. As the Special Task Force (STF) noticed the movement of the carnivore, some of them fired at it resulting in its death, police said. 

Speaking to DT Next, I Anwardeen, Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle said, “We made a good plan as all officials were on the lookout for the man-eater throughout Friday night. As per our plan, the tiger emerged from the bush and appeared before dawn. However, when we attempted to shoot tranquillizers at the tiger, he managed to escape.” 

He added that the tiger tried mauling one of the Special Task Force personnel involved in the pursuit, prompting them to fire at it. However, their aim was to catch the tiger alive through tranquillizers or traps. 

Vijay Krishnaraj, former secretary, Nilgiris Wildlife Association stressed that encroachments from forest lands should be removed to reduce the cases of man-animal conflicts in the future. So far, three tigers have been shot dead in the Gudalur forest division since 2014, he added. 

When contacted, Dr P Shankar, District collector, the Nilgiris said the tiger was shot in self-defence by the STF men. “Two STF personnel were injured, when the tiger attacked them. So, the officials were compelled to shoot the tiger,” he said.