Karnataka - Madikeri   

Captured tiger being treated in zoo

In safe custody: The tiger that was caught in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu recently.

Madikeri: The capture of the tiger on the prowl has come as a big relief to the residents of Teralu, Srimangala, T. Shettigeri, West Nemmale, Biruga, Nalkeri and surrounding villages in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu.

More than 30 heads of cattle were killed by the animal which had eluded authorities of the Department of Forests and people for over two months.

“The animal is recovering gradually,” Konerira Nanjappa, veterinarian, said. He had helped in shifting the tiger to Mysore zoo after it was trapped in the cage placed by the department authorities on the night of March 17.

There were contusions all over the body of the tiger and a wound on the head, Dr. Nanjappa, on contacted, told The Hindu from Mysore. The animal would have died if had been detained in the cage for some more time, he said.

“Tranquilising the animal that had become weak was a tough job,” he said. The animal had lost almost all its claws and its tail was swollen, Dr. Nanjappa said. The animal will be monitored for at least three months.

The tiger had sustained injuries after getting trapped in the cage, he said. However, it has been feeding well. Beef and chicken were being given. The animal had been quarantined and it would stay alone until it recovered fully, Dr. Nanjappa said. Isolation was needed as it could be a carrier of some disease from forests that could spread to other tigers in the zoo, he said.

What would happen to the tiger after recovered would be decided by the higher ups in the department, he said and added that it could even be shifted to the rescue centre at Bannerghatta National Park.

A long drama had unfolded before the capture of the tiger. Forest officials were “detained” by the irate residents of T. Shettigeri village about 10 days ago. They were demanding compensation for the cattle killed by the tiger.

After the intervention by B.B. Mallesh, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Madikeri Division, who holds the additional charge of DCF (Wildlife), and Assistant Conservator of Forests Lakshman, the officials were released.

“We would not have killed the tiger. We wanted the authorities to act swiftly because it went on killing the cattle,” Aneesh Madappa from T. Shettigeri village, who was one among those who had lost cattle in tiger attack, told The Hindu.

The residents wanted the cases booked against two people by the department dropped.

Mr. Mallesh, who recounted the anxious moments in dealing with the agitated residents of the affected villages, said that saving the animal once it was trapped had assumed priority. He said that telephone calls were received by the higher officers in the department from the Prime Minister’s office to save the animal.

The residents were told about the serious consequences in the event of the death of the tiger just before it was shifted to the zoo, he added.

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Captured tiger being treated in zoo

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