In the Wayanad district of Kerala, a distressing incident unfolded on Saturday (December 9) when a 36-year-old farmer named Prajeesh fell victim to a tiger attack while engaged in grass-cutting activities. The formidable nature of the attack led to partial consumption of the farmer by the tiger.
Promptly responding to the alarming situation, the Kerala Forest Department issued a directive on Sunday (December 10) endorsing the authorization to eliminate the said tiger. However, the directive underscored the imperative for officials to meticulously confirm the tiger's classification as a "man-eater" before resorting to any lethal measures.
The official order articulated, "If the animal proves resistant to capture or tranquilization, and its status as a man-eater is unequivocally established, it is deemed necessary to resort to its elimination, given the imminent threat it poses to human life in the region."
As part of a concentrated effort to track down the elusive tiger, the forest department has strategically deployed 11 cameras in diverse locations within the affected region.
The incident itself, marked by the tiger's attack on Prajeesh and the subsequent partial consumption of his lifeless body, left the local community profoundly disturbed. In a demonstration of their distress, locals congregated at the scene, expressing resistance against the police's endeavors to remove the victim's remains.
This disconcerting occurrence mirrors a grim precedent in Wayanad, as earlier in January of the same year, a 52-year-old farmer lost his life to a tiger attack, further underscoring the pressing need for measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the region.
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