Wayanad tiger attack: RRT official injured during capture operation
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Special Task Force installing a cage at Pancharakolly in Mananthavady to capture the man-eating tiger.
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Thiruvananthapuram: A Kerala Forest Department official from the Rapid Response Team (RRT) was injured in a tiger attack while participating in an operation to capture a man-eating tiger in Wayanad on Sunday.
The incident occurred during a routine patrolling drive in the forest, where the presence of the tiger had been confirmed. Jayasoorya, a member of the 28-person team, was attacked shortly after firing tranquilizer shots at the animal. Reacting quickly, he used his protective shield to block the tiger’s charge but sustained injuries to his hand. He was immediately rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital in Mananthavady for treatment.
This attack follows the tragic death of Radha (47), the wife of a temporary forest watchman, who was killed by the tiger on January 24. Radha was plucking coffee cherries at the Priyadarshini Estate in Pancharakolly village when the tiger struck. Her mutilated body was discovered by Thunderbolt commandos, who were conducting a combing operation for Maoists. They found her body at around 11:30 a.m., following pug marks leading to the forest, where the tiger had dragged her body.
In response to the rising threat, a special team led by Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Arun Zachariah, Dr. Ajesh Mohandas, and expert trackers has been deployed to locate and capture the tiger safely. The operation involves nearly 100 Forest Department personnel, including darting specialists, veterinarians, and trackers.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the North Wayanad Division, K.J. Martin Lowell, is overseeing the extensive operation. Multiple cages, cameras, and thermal drones have been deployed to monitor the tiger’s movements.
In a show of support, Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran visited the family of the deceased Radha and assured them of full government support. However, local residents expressed their frustration over the delay in capturing the tiger, waving black flags at the minister during his visit. The situation in the region remains tense as efforts to capture the man-eating tiger continue.
In a related development, Saseendran announced that the tiger responsible for the attacks would be declared a man-eater and ordered to be shot. This historic decision, made after a high-level meeting, comes as the tiger has repeatedly attacked and killed people.
With IANS inputs