Forest Department working hard to capture tiger that ‘killed’ two in Gudalur: Minister

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Tamil Nadu Forest Minister R. V. Ranjithkumar distributing provisions to people in Gudalur. | Photo Credit: SATHYAMOORTHY M

Tamil Nadu Forest Minister R.V. Ranjithkumar said the Forest Department and the State government are working towards capturing a male tiger that is suspected to have killed two persons at O’Valley in Gudalur. 

The Minister was addressing media persons in Gudalur on Friday after visiting families of the people affected in the region and distributing essential supplies. The Minister also received petitions from local residents during his visit. He said that he had received pleas from around 50 families requesting financial assistance, which he said would be fulfilled. 

Mr. Ranjithkumar said that the Forest Department had come close to trapping the tiger on a few occasions, but the carnivore had managed to evade capture for a total of 22 days so far. The Minister said that he was confident that the animal would be captured within a period of 10-20 days and appealed to the local residents for patience.

He also said that the government had taken multiple steps, including the allocation of ₹20 crore for integrated measures, to solve issues surrounding negative human-animal interactions in the State. The Minister also said that efforts to safeguard the lives of local residents, including arranging for transport for schoolchildren as well as other measures, would continue till the capture of the tiger. 

The Minister also visited the homes of the two persons who died in tiger attacks in O’Valley last month and offered condolences.

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