Tamil Nadu: Forest Department Intensifies Operation To Capture Tiger 'T-23'

The operation to trap the tiger had started about 13 days ago after it had killed four people and cattle in Gudalur, Masinagudi and Singara areas in Nilgiris.

Kumki elephants were involved in the operation (Picture: ABP Nadu)

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu forest department has intensified its operations to capture the tiger, named T 23, in Gudalur and Masinagudi areas in Nilgiris district. The operation to trap the tiger had started about 13 days ago after it had killed four people and cattle in Gudalur, Masinagudi and Singara areas in the district.

According to a report in The News Minute, the forest department has involved its counterparts from neighbouring Kerala and Karnataka in the operation to capture the tiger. The department has also involved two Kumki elephants and three sniffer dogs in the operation. They are using a modern drone to trace the location and movement of the tiger. 

As many as five teams each comprising six forest officials and a doctor, one net gun, 25 mobile cameras, one pepper gun and seven tranquiliser guns were put in place in the forest areas between Masinagudi and Theppakadu to capture the tiger.

Quoting unidentified sources, the report said that as the tiger was not spotted for the past four days, the department has now planned to make its team camp on tall trees based on the earlier movements of the tiger so that the team could tranquilise the tiger immediately if spotted. Cows were also tied at certain spots to attract the tiger. 

Meanwhile, the officials have requested the people not to venture out in the operational areas as it would prevent the tiger from stepping out from its hideout. 

As per the report, the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the forest department to capture the tiger alive and not to kill it as it might not be a man-eater and it further said that it is important to capture the tiger alive because of the poor population of tigers in the country. The forest department in turn had assured to take steps to capture the tiger alive.