Amid massive outroar over the man-animal conflict in Wayanad of Kerala after a radio-collared wild elephant trampled a man to death in the region, the residents spotted tiger, bison and elephant herds in human settlements in the mountainous terrain. The tiger was found in a populated area of Padamala in Wayanad on Tuesday.
Local television channels released CCTV footage showing a big cat crossing a road in the area.
A local woman, who reportedly had a close encounter with the animal on Tuesday morning, said that she still reels from the shock.
She mentioned that they were already grappling with the trauma of Aji's death, a man who was trampled to death by a wild elephant in the district days earlier.
According to reports, some people attending morning prayers at a nearby church also spotted the tiger.
In another incident, a man narrowly escaped from a charging bison on the Chithragiri-Neelimala road in the district on Monday night.
Pradeep, a local resident, was heading home on his two-wheeler from work around 7:30 pm when a large bison suddenly appeared from the opposite direction on the narrow road. Pradeep avoided the animal by veering his bike to the left, diverting the animal's attention.
In CCTV footage broadcasted by local channels, the animal can be seen sprinting through the narrow road, while some women from a nearby house warn Pradeep not to proceed that way.
There were also reports from various districts of the state, including Wayanad, of elephant herds encroaching into human settlements.
In a separate incident, a male tiger trapped in a roadside fence in Kottiyoor, Kannur, was rescued by forest officials after being tranquilized on Monday. However, official sources reported that the tiger died while being transported to the zoo on Tuesday.
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