Pathanamthitta killer tiger likely to be shot dead

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has decided to shoot down a killer tiger that has been spreading panic at Thannithode and neighbouring areas in Pathanamthitta district.
The decision is to kill the animal if it cannot be captured alive. “I have directed the plantation corporation and private landowners to clear the undergrowth, besides strengthening the rapid response team. If it becomes difficult to capture the animal using tranquiliser darts, the decision is to kill it,” forest minister K Raju said.
The decision came after 10 days of joint efforts to capture the tiger—estimated to be aged between six and eight—alive.Forest department officials have been trying to trap or tranquilize the animal, and even a kumki elephant has been pressed into service.
As many as four teams, comprising around 10 members each, have been deployed. The forest department has also installed 25 camera traps, besides setting up four cages with live bait.
“We have two sharpshooters from the police department, besides forest officials, including veterinary doctors, in the team. If needed, the teams will be strengthened further,” Raju said.
The tiger had killed a 37-year-old plantation worker, Bineesh Mathew, on May 7. Visuals captured by a drone camera confirmed the presence of the animal, now suspected to be a man-eater.
“A tiger had killed a person in the area more than a year ago, and it could be the same beast. The animal is suffering from some physical ailment, as assumed from the visuals. The animal’s continued presence in the human settlement poses a big danger,” the forest minister said.
District collector P B Nooh has imposed prohibitory orders in the area. Local MLAs including Raju Abraham and K U Jenish Kumar have been visiting the area to ensure necessary action and to allay people’s apprehensions.
“With the stoppage of rubber tapping due to lockdown, the area is full of thick undergrowth, which has affected the search,” Abraham said.