Tiger operations continue in the Nilgiris on the 17th

Gudalur DFO P. Devaraj and Senior Veterinary Officer Kalivanan discuss the tiger trapping operation at Lauriston O’Valley in Gudalur on Saturday. | Photo credit: SATHYAMOORTHY M.

Efforts to capture the male tiger suspected of killing two persons at O’Valley in Gudalur entered the 17th day on Sunday.

Forest department officials said a drill was conducted on Saturday on the procedures and operations to be followed for the safe capture of the tiger while ensuring the safety of local residents. They also checked 170 camera traps deployed in the vicinity and those placed at Naduvattam in Nilgiris forest division and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve to check tiger movement.

The 13 trap cages that were set up were camouflaged to cover them and attract the tiger to enter them. “A consultative meeting was also held under the leadership of the district forest officer with a special team consisting of forest veterinary officers, assistant conservators of forests, forest guards, field workers, rapid response team and forest elite forces. The meeting discussed the next course of action to capture the tiger,” the press release said.

Meanwhile, party members from the DMK, on ​​behalf of Nilgiris MP A. Raji, distributed a month’s worth of food, including rice, to planter families in the area, most of whom had to miss work due to the tiger capture operation.

The DMK said the forest department has informally advised locals not to go for tea leaf picking or agricultural work in the area until the operation is completed, resulting in families having to miss work and lose their daily wages.

Published – 06 Sep 2026 19:43 IST