Man-eater tiger captured in Wayanad; forest entry curbs to continue

Pulppally: In a major relief to residents of Vandikadavu, a tiger that killed a 65-year-old tribal man was captured by the Forest Department in the early hours of Friday. The 14-year-old male tiger has been identified as WL-48 of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Officials said the tiger is suffering from serious health issues and is therefore unlikely to be released back into the wild.

The tiger fell into the trap laid at Hajiyar Kadavu in the Vandikkadavu forest region around 1.30 am on Friday. It was later shifted to the Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Unit under the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary at Kuppadi near Sulthan Bathery. 

The forest officials confirmed that it is the same tiger involved in the fatal attack on Kooman alias Maran (65), a resident of the Devarghadha tribal settlement under the Vandikkadavu Forest Station limits, on December 20. According to police, the tiger attacked the man and dragged him deep into the forest. He reportedly succumbed to his injuries while being taken out of the forest.

Following protests, the Chief Wildlife Warden issued an order to capture the problem tiger. According to officials, the cage was placed at the same spot where the elderly man was attacked.

The tiger was first registered in the Forest Department’s database during the 2016 tiger census, when it was sighted in the Sulthan Bathery forest range. However, from 2018 to November 2025, it remained untraceable in the Wayanad forest region.

Its recent presence was first recorded in early December, when it lifted a buffalo calf grazing near the Cheeyambam forest zone, after which it was kept under close observation by the Forest Department.

Though the man-eater is trapped, the Forest Department has placed the Devargadha region under high alert.

According to an official communiqué, the department had set up four cage traps along the forest border at Vandikkadavu to capture the big cat. Around 40 camera traps and four live camera units were installed in the forest to track the tiger’s movement.

The tiger, which was captured on camera traps on December 21 and 22, later went missing and was sighted again on December 25. Forest Department experts confirmed that the animal was the same by comparing the recent images with photographs stored in the department’s database from 2016 and 2018.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Joshil M said the tiger would not be released back into the wild as it had developed a tendency to lift cattle and had been involved in attacks on humans. Its advanced age, estimated at around 14 years, was also a key factor in the decision.

Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G Krishnan told the media that the future of the tiger, which has been shifted to the Animal Hospices and Palliative Care Unit at Kuppadi, would be decided after a thorough medical examination.

Chief Conservator of Forests (Palakkad Zone), T Uma, coordinated the surveillance and combing operations, while Head of Forest Force Rajesh Raveendran reviewed the mission's progress.

The ground operations were coordinated by Assistant Conservator of Forests Joshil M, with support from Assistant Wildlife Wardens Mubasheer, Nasna, and the Mananthavady Rapid Response Team Deputy Forest Range Officer Anand, Vandikkadavu Forest Station Deputy Forest Range Officer Ashraf, among others. Rapid Response Team members from Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady, along with the Wildlife Veterinary Unit of Sulthan Bathery, extended support to the mission.

Malappuram Assistant Forest Veterinary Surgeon Shyam Mohan examined the tiger’s health condition. Deputy Conservator of Forests Arul Selvan, in charge of the Wildlife Division, also monitored the operation.

Meanwhile, Forest Minister AK Saseendran congratulated Forest Department personnel for their dedicated efforts in capturing the man-eater within a week after the fatal attack on the tribal man.

Mating season of tigers: Restrictions to continue
Deputy Conservator of Forests Joshil M said restrictions on entry into forest areas would continue as tigers tend to become more aggressive during the mating season, which will last till the end of January. He pointed out that indigenous communities and farmers living along forest fringes are yet to be fully sensitised to the risks associated with the mating season. 

“Even a slight disturbance may be enough to enrage an animal preparing the right ambience to court a mate,” he said.

Guidelines issued by the Forest Department and widely circulated on social media advise people against roaming alone in forest-like areas, including plantations, during this period. Making some noise whilemoving can help avoid sudden encounters with wild animals, it was pointed out.

Walking alone through jungle routes during night hours should be strictly avoided. Travel on foot through forest regions during early mornings or late evenings should also be avoided.

Members of indigenous communities entering forests to collect minor forest produce have been advised to return before nightfall and avoid venturing into the forests alone.