May 20, 2025

The search for a tiger that killed a man at Adakkakundu in the Kalikavu range of Nilambur forest last week continued on the fifth day. More than 50 forest staff, split into three teams, aided by drones and live stream cameras, combed the steep terrains of the forest. Dr. Arun Zachariah, the chief wildlife veterinary surgeon leading the operation, stated that the tiger seems elusive but the tracking will persist until its discovery. The tiger, which fatally attacked Gafoor Ali, has moved out of the fear-stricken territory. Despite not being sighted during the search, the operation will continue. The rain partly affected the search efforts on Tuesday. Camera traps and video cameras were strategically placed, and the tiger was captured on camera near the location of the attack. Kumkis, trained elephants used for tracking, are on standby for when the tiger's presence is detected. Dr. Zachariah emphasized the importance of tracking the tiger's territory before deploying the kumkis for darting. Kumkis are a crucial defense measure during darting as they can protect the team from a charging tiger. The search operation will persist until the tiger is located.

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Tags: Tiger, Man-eater, Wildlife, Search operation,