A senior forest official instructs frontline forest staff ahead of a search operation at Vakeri on December 30. photo credit: special arrangement
Forest personnel on Friday morning (December 30) resumed efforts to chase the injured tiger in Irulam forest at Vakeri in Wayanad district.
Around 100 forest personnel and a team of veterinary doctors from three forest divisions including the sanctuary, north and south Wayanad forest divisions were sent to the area for the operation.
Wayanad Deputy Collector R. Srilakshmi has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC) in wards 8 and 9 of Puthadi Gram Panchayat till the operation is over.
At least six surveillance cameras were installed in a coffee plantation where the animal was spotted on December 29 to keep tabs on the big cat’s movements, but we are yet to get any images of the animal, Chethalayath Forest Range Officer Abdul Samad, who is leading the operation, said. “It is suspected that the animal is hiding in the same plantation,” said Mr. Samad.
“The Chief Wildlife Warden had approved the installation of a cage to capture the animal on Thursday and it will be installed soon,” he said.