Nilgiris tiger declared man-eater after two fatal attacks

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has declared a male tiger, estimated to be between eight and 10 years old, a man-eater following two fatal attacks in the Nilgiris district near Gudalur. The incidents occurred at Lauriston in the O-Valley town panchayat, claiming the lives of M. Balakrishnan on August 9 and K. Ravikumar on a recent Friday.

Officials classified the animal as a man-eater after evidence indicated it had consumed parts of its victims. Gudalur District Forest Officer P. Devaraj noted that pugmarks found at both locations were similar, suggesting the same animal is responsible for both deaths.

To capture the tiger, authorities have deployed four specialized teams. Two seven-member ground teams are tracking the animal using pugmarks and scat, while two additional teams are utilizing drones for monitoring. Six cages containing live bait have been positioned along suspected movement routes. While the department aims to tranquilize and capture the tiger, forest personnel have been authorized to shoot the animal if it poses an imminent threat to human life during the operation.