Chennai: The Tamil Nadu forest department’s operation to hunt a tiger named ‘T-23’ in Gudalur in Nilgiris district is underway, and residents of over ten areas in the Gudalur region have been prohibited from stepping out of their homes at night. The department has also blocked vehicular movement between Theppakadu and Masinagudi.
Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Shekar Kumar Niraj on Friday issued orders to hunt the elusive tiger, which has been allegedly responsible for the killing of humans and livestock near Gudalur. Locals claimed that four persons were killed by the tiger in Singara and the adjacent region of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
A state’s chief wildlife warden has the powers to order hunting of Schedule 1 wild animals under Section 11(1)(a) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 if he/she is satisfied that the animal has become dangerous to human life, and such animal cannot be captured, tranquilised or translocated.
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Speaking to The News Minute, Chief Wildlife Warden Niraj said that one of the forest department’s tracking teams had spotted the tiger around 12:30 pm on Saturday but the animal could not be found later. He added that the forest department has continued its search for the animal.
Quoting the official, the report said that since the National Tiger Conservation Authority norms prohibit the capture of any animal after 6 pm, the operation was stopped on Saturday. He said teams comprising 80 people including authorities, experts and doctors were on high alert.
According to the report, the forest department has also directed the residents of over ten areas, including Masinagudi and Singara, not to step out of their houses during the night hours, and that officials have also blocked vehicular movement between Theppakadu and Masinagudi.
Meanwhile, the operation to capture the tiger resumed on Sunday morning and the forest department has decided to use a ‘Kumki’ elephant in the operation.