Pulpally: Residents of the Amarakkuni village in Pulpally, Wayanad, are living in constant fear as a problem tiger continues to evade capture after killing two goats. Despite the forest department's efforts, including setting up three cage traps and deploying trained kumki elephants, the tiger remains at large. The mission, led by noted veterinarian Dr Arun Zachariya, was temporarily called off on Sunday due to fading light.

The 10-year-old male tiger is believed to have migrated from Karnataka. Experts suggest that physical ailments may have prevented it from hunting wild animals, forcing it to prey on livestock. South Wayanad DFO Ajith K Raman explained that three field teams have been deployed to focus on the locations where the tiger killed the goats and the banks of the Kannarampuzha river, a probable site for the animal's movement.

To support the capture efforts, the forest department has set up a camp house in Amarakkuni, installed 14 CCTV cameras, and established a round-the-clock communication system to keep top officials informed. Chethalath Forest Range Officer Rajeev Kumar is coordinating the operation.

Local residents, however, remain deeply concerned. Pulpally panchayat president TS Dileep Kumar voiced his concerns, stating that further delays in capturing the tiger could escalate local anxiety.