Tiger Trapped After Repeated Livestock Attacks in Pathanamthitta

Pathanamthitta: An adult tiger that had repeatedly strayed into human settlements and attacked domestic animals was trapped by the Forest Department in Pathanamthitta district in the early hours of Monday, officials said.

The tiger’s presence had been reported in Kumbalathamon near Vadasserikara over the past two months, following a series of livestock killings. Forest officials later installed camera traps in the area, which confirmed the movement of the animal.

According to officials, the tiger had killed buffaloes, dogs and goats belonging to nearby farms and households in Kumbalathamon, an area located close to the forest boundary. On Sunday, a goat was killed, and its carcass was found at an isolated spot near the forest.

Following this, forest personnel set up a cage trap near the location, using the carcass as bait. When the tiger returned to feed on it, the animal was trapped inside the cage, officials said.

The tiger will be shifted to a nearby forest station for a medical examination. A decision on whether it will be released back into the wild or kept in captivity will be taken later based on the assessment.

Officials clarified that the tiger was not involved in any attacks on humans, though repeated livestock killings had caused panic among residents in the area.