Tiger That Declared 'Man-Eater' Found Dead In Wayanad; Doctor Says 'Not Shot' (representational image)
Wayanad, Kerala: Tiger that attacked and killed Radha, a 47-year-old from Kerala’s Wayanad, has been found dead, with a deep wound in the neck, on Monday morning. After finding the alleged man-eating tiger, the forest department officials reportedly confirmed that it was the same one that killed Radha at Pancharakolli near Mananthavadi.
Notably, the tiger purportedly got injured during a fight with another animal, and the wound was not from a shooting as it was old, according to Dr Arun Sakaria, the Chief Veterinary Surgeon of the Forest Department, Mathrubhumi Reports.
Radha, a plantation worker, was attacked by a tiger on January 24, leading to her death and increased public anger towards the government. Radha was mauled by the tiger while plucking coffee at the Priyadarshini Estate. The same tiger that killed Radha also attacked Beat Forest Officer Jayasurya, a member of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) deployed for patrolling duty in the area on Sunday.
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Locals had protested by blocking the road and not allowing the body of the victim to be taken for autopsy, and many women workers of the estate demanded that the tiger should be captured or killed.
Following strong public anger, the government had declared the tiger a ‘man-eater’ while issuing an order to shoot it dead. The decision was taken following a high-level meeting at the District Collectorate. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also reacted strongly, demanding the authorities’ immediate intervention in the issue.
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The authorities have also taken increased wildlife management and security in the forest areas. Over 400 AI cameras will be set up across the state to strengthen monitoring and prevent wildlife-related attacks, the forest minister said.
Recently, Wayanad has been witnessing several human-animal conflicts that have involved elephants, tigers, bears, and other wild animals. Many have led to fatalities and damages to properties and agriculture, making the place a hotspot for human-wildlife conflict.
