Pulppalli: Alarm spread through the agrarian village of Amarakkuni near Pulppalli, Wayanad, after a tiger killed a goat early on Tuesday morning. Villagers reported sightings of the tiger in nearby areas, sparking fears that the animal may still lurk in the farmlands and could return to prey on livestock during the night.

Forest department officials suspect the tiger started attacking domestic animals because of its physical disabilities. In response to the incident, a Rapid Response Team (RRT) was dispatched to the site. A team led by South Wayanad DFO Ajith K Raman and Forest Range Officer M K Rajeev Kumar is currently stationed in the area. Despite attempts to track the animal, it eluded capture, possibly due to the dense cover of coffee plants and trees, said sources.

However, as dusk fell, the team decided to halt their search. A public warning was issued advising people not to venture outside after nightfall.

According to Joseph Narakath, the owner of the goat which the tiger killed, the incident happened around 3 am and the remains were found 200 meters away from the house.

Pulppalli Panchayat President T S Dileepkumar expressed concern over the timing of the incident, as the harvest season at the plantations is at its peak. "We urge the forest department to act swiftly and capture the animal," he said. The forest department has set up a cage in a coffee plantation near Joseph’s house to trap the tiger.