Twenty-nine-year-old Riyas Mohammed from Wayanad was on a leisurely trek in Idukki's Kolukkumala last Friday evening with two local youngsters. It wasn't his first trek in the region, but he hardly anticipated meeting another 'trekker' resting under a tree, which would be a first for him. One look at the ‘sleepy trekker' and the trio ran for their lives. Yes, it was a tiger on an afternoon nap!

Sharing the incident with Onmanorama, Riyas recounts, "While walking ahead with my phone filming the locales, I spotted something near a short tree. It took me just a few seconds to realise that it was a tiger," he says. Apparently, the tiger's tail was swaying from side to side, and it was facing forward, probably unaware of its unwelcome visitors. "I wasn't sure whether the tiger saw me, but I immediately turned and ran, alerting my friends who were following me. We fled the spot in no time," says Riyas, who has been working in Kolukkumalai for the past five years in a private firm. 

Riyas Mohammed was trekking in Kolukkumala when he encountered the tiger. Photo: Special Arrangement
Riyas Mohammed was trekking in Kolukkumala when he encountered the tiger. Photo: Special Arrangement

However, he realised later that the tiger had been recorded on his phone, reminding him of the gravity of the near-death incident. They immediately informed the Forest Department about the encounter and headed to the location to inspect. They were informed that the officers couldn't find the tiger at that time. The trio later headed to check out another spot with Neelakurinji blooms. 

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