Idukki: An injured tiger that had terrorised Vandiperiyar’s Grambi area was shot dead by forest officials on Monday during an attempt to tranquillise it. The tiger had killed around five domestic animals near a plantation in Aranakallu.

Forest officials fired a tranquilliser shot at the tiger around 11 am on Monday after tracking it near the plantation fence. However, the tiger turned aggressive and charged at the officials. Manu, a forest official, was injured in the attack, prompting the team to open fire in self-defence. Kottayam DFO confirmed the tiger’s death while addressing the media.

Visuals aired on news channels showed forest officials transferring the tiger to the Thekkady Tiger Reserve to confirm its death. Officials noted that the tiger was very weak due to a deep injury in one of its legs.

Reports said the tiger had killed a cow owned by Narayanan and a dog belonging to Balamurukan early on Monday. Despite drone surveillance and tracking, the tiger had eluded capture after being spotted near Grambi the previous day.  A team of 20 forest officials, including veterinary doctor Anuraj, and sniffer dogs had been deployed for the operation. 

Forest Minister AK Saseendran acknowledged the complexity of the operation. “It was necessary to tranquillise and treat the tiger, but at the same time, we had to address the safety concerns of the local residents,” he said.

Meanwhile, local residents staged a protest against the forest department, criticising the delay in capturing the tiger. The protests escalated as the tiger continued to prey on domestic animals.

This is the third death of a tranquillised wild animal in two months. In February, a wild elephant died while undergoing treatment at Kodanad after being tranquillised and relocated. A few days ago, an injured elephant calf also died after being tranquillised.