Ranni: Residents of Kumbalathamon in Vadaserikkara, who had been living in fear due to a tiger menace, can finally breathe easy. The tiger that had terrorised the area for nearly two months was caught in a cage set up by the Forest Department on Monday. The animal is in a weakened condition, with indications of poor vision in one eye.

The tiger fell into a cage installed along the forest boundary about a month ago. On Sunday, the tiger had attacked a goat that was let out to graze, and the carcass was later found near the cage. Forest officials then placed the carcass inside the cage, following which the tiger entered it to feed and got trapped.

The tiger had first been spotted near a house in Kumbalathaman on September 9. Soon after, it attacked and killed a pet dog, consuming half of its body before retreating. Fear of the tiger had forced residents to avoid venturing out even during the daytime. In October, the tiger had also killed a buffalo that was grazing in a field close to a residential area.

After camera surveillance confirmed the presence of the tiger, the Forest Department set up the cage on October 28. Although the remains of the buffalo were placed inside the cage earlier, the tiger had not entered it then.