The situation of man tiger conflicts has worsened in Wayanad Tiger Reserve in Kerala. Two tigers have been sent to Thrissur Zoo in the consecutive months of February and March this year. This was preceded by the shootout of a big cat in December last, in the face of local pressure, following its straying in the fringe villages and killing livestock.
In the latest of the incidents, two persons were mauled by the straying tiger at Moodakolli near Sultan Batheri in Wayanad recently. According to sources, the big cat was spotted at a coffee plantation and was soon surrounded by the crowd. Some persons surrounding the big cat even tried to take its photographs using their mobile phones.
The two attacked persons were at the forefront of the crowd. Both of them sustained deep bite injuries.
The attacking tiger was a twelve year old male. According to sources the huge crowd surrounding the tiger delayed the rescue operation. later it was tranquilised and caged by the forest department.
The mob, however, went out of control and the police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse a crowd that blocked the vehicle carrying the caged animal. They stoned the officials demanding compensation to the injured and steps to find a permanent solution to the tiger scare in the district.
“The mob fury is completely understandable, considering the loss of livestock in their villages”, pointed out Vidya Athreya, wildlife biologist from Wildlife Conservation Society, Such incidents will occur as long as the crowd is not controlled. It is
very important thus to cordon off the area of operation with minimal people present.
But with so many people around the animal being captured gets petrified and runs helter skelter for cover. “, as it has happened in this case”, she added. Trying to carry out such delicate operations in such a situation can only spell disaster.
The experts further noted that Wayanad also has high density human population. Straying of tigers to the fringe villages especially for those that are unable to hunt wild animals in the forest come out in search of easy preys as domestic cattle etc.
In order to tackle such incidents it is important to identify the problem tiger and follow the recommendations listed under Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. “It is very important to ensure that the local persons do not get antagonistic as this is detrimental to the conservation efforts”, pointed out the experts.
Former member of National Board For Wildlife (NBWl) Praveen Bhargav stressed on the urgent need for proper habitat management. Nagerhole, Bandipur, Wayanad, Mudumalai, Satyamangalam BRT form a landscape of about 5000 sq kms having the densest tiger population (12 tigers /100 sq km) in the world.
It is very crucial to ensure that tigers can disperse on their own for which the corridors need to be protected for their movement.
Such instances are grim reminders of the fragmentation of such high density tiger habitats which need to be safeguarded as an important priority, he added.