Search on for man-eater tiger at Manathavady in Wayanad

The house of Radha, a 47-year-old tribal woman at Pancharakolly near Mananthavadi under the North Wayanad forest division, who was reportedly mauled to death by a tiger on Friday, January 24, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Situation remains tense at Pancharakkolly near Mananthavady in Wayanad where the combining operations by a special task force are on for the tiger that had mauled a woman to death on Friday (January 25, 2024). Several cages have been placed at strategic locations, including the place where the victim’s body was found, to trap the tiger. Trained elephants (kumkis) from the Muthanga elephant camp have been deployed to support the search operations. Thermal drones and regular drones, besides camera traps are being used to track the movement of the tiger. Forest officials confirmed the presence of the tiger in the area after it was caught in one of the cameras set up for surveillance.

Chief Conservator of Forests (Northern Circle) K.S.Deep has camped at Pancharakkolly to monitor the operations. Several other senior forest department officials are also in the area.

Meanwhile, the local people, upholding their demand that the tiger needs to be killed, continue to protest. They have maintained that they will not allow the officials to get away with capturing the tiger alive, as it could pose problems elsewhere. However, the officials explained that killing is only the last resort as they are bound to follow the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, though the furious mob is little convinced.

Meanwhile, the funeral of Radha, the tribal woman who was mauled by the tiger, was held at around 11 a.m. after the body was released from the Government Medical College Wayanad, Mananthavady after autopsy. The hartal called by Congress and SDPI at Mananthavady continues. The claim that a tiger was spotted at Vythiri as well, has mounted panic.