Synopsis
A tiger that had instilled fear in Gramby, Idukki district, Kerala, was shot dead after efforts to tranquilize it failed. The aggressive animal attacked a response team, prompting officials to take lethal action.Key Takeaways
- Tiger shot dead after tranquilization attempts failed.
- Incident occurred in Gramby, Idukki, Kerala.
- RRT member injured during the tiger's attack.
- Kerala reported numerous wildlife-related fatalities this year.
- Human-wildlife conflicts on the rise due to extensive forest cover.
Idukki, March 17 (NationPress) A tiger that incited fear among residents in Gramby, located in Kerala's Idukki district, was shot dead when attempts to tranquilize it proved ineffective.
The tiger attacked a special response team despite receiving two tranquilizer doses.
Officials reported that after the first tranquilizer shot, the tiger became increasingly aggressive, culminating in a violent leap towards the Rapid Response Team (RRT), injuring one member. In response, armed RRT personnel fired at the tiger, which subsequently collapsed.
The RRT team then secured the tiger in a net and transported it in a vehicle.
Images indicate that the tiger was deceased by the time it was netted. The team moved the caged tiger to the Thekkady Wildlife Reserve, where it was confirmed dead upon arrival.
A collaborative effort by the Kerala Forest Department, law enforcement, and locals had been ongoing for six days to locate the tiger, which was spotted in a tea estate early Monday morning.
Previously observed as weak and limping, the tiger's injuries raised concerns.
The Department had initially attempted to capture the animal using a cage set up near the Government LP School in Gramby, but this effort failed due to the tiger's frailty, leading to the decision to use tranquilizers instead.
As of February 28, official reports indicate that Kerala has recorded 57 human fatalities resulting from wildlife encounters in the current financial year (2024-25).
This includes 15 fatalities from elephant encounters, eight from wild boar incidents, one from a tiger attack, 32 from snake bites, and one related to a porcupine.
The rise in human-wildlife conflicts in Kerala is linked to the extensive forest cover, which comprises 29.1 percent of the state's total land area.
Over 100,000 tribal inhabitants coexist within these forests, along with approximately 500,000 non-tribal residents in adjacent settlements and border regions.
