Locals staged demonstration to Kill Tiger, Forest dept nods to hunt the big cat

Elusive tiger to be tranquilised or hunted : Forest dept

Coimbatore: An aged tiger, which has killed four people besides several cattle and goats after entering the human habitats, and has been evading the trap for the last one week, will either be tranquilised or hunted, Forest department officials said on Saturday.

''We have been making every effort and will continue to take all steps to tranquilise it. If it did not materialise, hunting will be the last option", the officials, who had been spending sleepless night for the last one week, said.

An order to hunt the tiger, T23, was issued by the Tamil Nadu Chief Wildlife Warden last evening after it killed one more person at Masinagudi in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).

Since the wild cat, said to be an old male, could not hunt wild animals for its prey due to failing health and carrying injuries, has started hunting human beings and cattles, the order to hunt it was issued. However, it will be the last resort.''Only if the efforts to tranquilise the tiger failed, it will be hunted", the sources said.The tiger has been responsible for the death of four people in villages around the MTR and Gudalur area.

The forest department officials started the operation to tranquilise and capture it more than a week ago after a herder was killed at Devan Estate in Gudalur. Though the tiger has been spotted on a few occasions, it could not be tranquilised as it quickly hide itself into the thick bushes and also evaded the trap laid by theofficials.

On Friday, it is believed to have crossed back into the MTR from Gudalur and killed 82-year-old M.Basavan, who was grazing his cattle.

After his body was found, locals staged a protest and demanded that the tiger should be killed. They blocked the road between Masinagudi and Udhagamandalam and refused to allow the police to take Basavan’s body to hospital for autopsy. However, senior officials rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators after which they dispersed.

As the fear gripped the people living in the area and has not come out of their houses, officials distributed rice and other grocery items to the people. Assistance of the Kerala forest department officials have also be sought for the operation.(UNI)