On Sunday and Monday, five cows each were killed by a big cat, causing panic in the Nemkkad area.
On Sunday and Monday, five cows each were killed by a big cat, causing panic in the Nemkkad area.
Kerala Forest officials in Munnar division have stepped up vigil after another incident of a cattle being injured in a suspected tiger attack on Tuesday.
A cow was injured in East Kadalar area, which is about half a kilometer from the Eravikulam National Park.
tracking movement
Keeping an eye on the movement of the animal, the forest officials think that the animal may be returning to its habitat in the Eravikulam area. Munnar Divisional Forest Officer Raju Francis said tigers are known to exhibit such behavior and return to their home turf after human settlements and cattle raising.
killed 10 cows
Big cat had killed five cows each on Sunday and MondayThere is an atmosphere of panic in Neyamkkad area. Mr Francis said the new site of tiger killing is on the west side of the Nemkkad area where the animal had created panic and the animal is likely to return to its natural habitat, which is a good sign.
He said that the tiger must have been roaming in the area with hunger as it had not fed the prey.
Forest officials are planning to set up a trap in the East Kadalur area where its presence was last reported.
animal identification
Efforts are on to confirm the identity of the animal that killed the cattle in Nemakkad and East Kadalur areas as its identity could not be confirmed through grainy visuals of the tiger obtained that day. Mr Francis said the animal’s pug marks from the two locations would be compared to verify its identity.
The introduction of animals into human settlements caused panic in the area dominated by the estates. The estate workers had resorted to public protests and road jams to demand compensation.
Forest officials have been deployed in different parts of the area where the presence of the tiger was reported. Farmers who lost their cattle were also compensated, Mr Francis said.