Man-Eater Tiger of Wayanad Discovered Deceased with Wounds

The ‘man-eater’ tiger that recently killed a woman in Wayanad, Kerala has been found dead in the early hours of Monday. The incident occurred in a forest-fringed estate where the woman was collecting coffee beans. The death of the woman sparked widespread protests in the area, leading the state government to declare the tiger as a man-eater and schedule it for culling.

Discovery of the Tiger’s Body

Forest officials conducted a thorough combing operation to locate the tiger, eventually finding its body with deep neck injuries inside Pilakavu Estate around 2.30 am on Monday. The officials confirmed the identity of the tiger by verifying its stripe pattern and linking it to the attack on the woman, Radha, on Saturday. Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Northern Circle, KS Deepa, stated that the exact cause of the tiger’s death will be determined after a postmortem examination.

Efforts to Capture the Tiger

Forest officials had been monitoring the tiger’s movements using cameras installed in the area. An attempt to tranquilize the tiger was made in the early hours of Monday, but it was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the tiger was found dead in the Pilakavu area. The incident prompted authorities to impose a curfew in certain areas of Mananthavady Municipality as a precautionary measure.

Government’s Response

Forest Minister A K Saseendran declared the tiger a man-eater after a high-level meeting at the district collectorate on Sunday. This decision was made in response to the fatal attack on the woman and the subsequent fear and unrest it caused in the Pancharakolli area.

Final Thoughts

The death of the ‘man-eater’ tiger in Wayanad brings closure to a tragic incident that had gripped the region in fear. The postmortem examination will provide more insights into the circumstances of the tiger’s demise, shedding light on the events leading up to its fatal encounter with the woman in the forest-fringed estate.