Goat-eater tiger of Wayanad wounded and unfit for hunting, officials mull rehabilitation

Kalpetta: The elusive tiger that gave sleepless nights to residents of Amarakkuni in Wayanad before it was captured on Thursday night is wounded, slow to move, and unfit to be released into the jungle. The officials now need to find a place where the tiger can be housed and treated. With seven tigers, the Animal Hospices and Palliative Care Unit at Pachadi near Sulthan Bathery in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is already beyond its carrying capacity.

The animal which preyed on goats from households didn't seem to care for the goat that was tied in front of the cage set by the Rapid Response Team. The team then improvised, converting the cage to make it look like a stable with a live animal. The ploy worked. The tiger walked right in and was captured. In the past ten days, the tiger evaded a patrolling unit, drone cameras and residents who stayed awake.

The animal has been shifted to the forest station at Irulam near Pulppalli from where it would be relocated to the Animal hospice facility. "The animal is a total misfit for jungle life as it cannot run fast and is unable to catch big prey animals like buffalos. That is why the animal used to catch only goats. Whenever we laid a cage-trap, the tiger came to the spot but never stepped in. Later, we set the cage like a normal stable with a live animal inside," said Dr Arun Zachariyah, the Chief Forest Veterinary Officer.

South Wayand DFO Ajith K Raman, who had monitored the mission, said that it was the tactical strategies of the team carried out with the cooperation of the residents that resulted in the final success.

The residents are a relieved lot. The village has worn a desolate look after the tiger starts preying on livestock. Kusan U N, a farmer of Amarakkuni told Onmanorama said that life became really tough for the villagers since January 7 when the first goat was killed and dragged out of the cage near a farmer's house. "Though we were not panicky then, after the second incident everybody here was afraid and people started to remain at home after the sunset. None of us entered the farm even if it is the time of harvest," he said.

They had to resort to all ways to keep the goats safe. They installed iron nets, set fire around the cage and even kept goats inside the house.