Wayanad ,21 Dec (H.S.):A tiger that had been at the centre of rising fears in the Kanjirappuzha–Pichalamunda–Vakottan belt was captured on Saturday night after it entered a cage placed on private farmland. The animal was trapped around 10 pm on land belonging to Kottaram George, where the Forest Department had positioned the cage in response to repeated complaints from residents.

The cage was initially set up on November 27 near the forest fringes following an incident in which farm labourers on George’s property narrowly escaped an attack when the tiger charged toward them.

Residents of Vakottan, Chullippara, Nirav and Chenthand reported frequent sightings of both tigers and leopards in the past few weeks. CCTV footage from several houses had also confirmed the presence of big cats, including visuals of domestic animals being dragged away.

Alarmed by the situation, locals approached the Mannarkkad Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), prompting the Forest Department to intensify surveillance in the region and install a cage. The trap was originally placed at Poongola Manthon before being shifted to Vakottan, where the tiger was eventually caught.

Forest officials immediately reached the spot once they were alerted that the animal had entered the cage. The tiger will undergo routine checks before being relocated as per wildlife management protocols.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman