Wayanad (Kerala) Farmers and local residents of a forest-edge village in Kerala's hilly Wayanad district, who have been living in fear of a tiger, blocked a busy road on Sunday in protest, displaying dead bodies of cows that They had been killed by the great ones. cat.
Despite efforts by the Wildlife Department to cage the animal, the tiger killed two more cows owned by a farmer in Kenichira village in the early hours.
He had earlier killed two other cows in the village.
Crouching on the busy road, protesters raised slogans and demanded that government authorities ensure the protection of their lives and livelihoods.
They displayed the carcasses of dead cows in a vehicle.
They demanded immediate intervention from the Wildlife Department to tranquilize the tiger and capture it as soon as possible. "The tiger should be shot dead. The Wildlife Protection Act should be amended by incorporating timely changes," one of the protesters demanded.
A local resident said they were afraid to send their children to school and visit neighboring houses due to constant fear of the big cat's presence in the area.
As the protest continued, Forest Minister AK Saseendran ordered wildlife officials to take necessary steps to capture the tiger.
Collector Renu Raj said if the animal could not be caged, steps would be taken to trap it after tranquilizing it.
The Chief Wildlife Warden has been directed to immediately grant permission for this after completing the necessary legal procedures, an official statement quoting her said.
Senior officials of the Wildlife Department rushed to the area and assured the villagers that necessary steps would be taken immediately to tranquilize the animal.
Measures have already been initiated to bring rapid response team personnel to the area as part of the mission to capture the animal, they said.
Forest officials also said that Rs 30,000 would be given as advance payment of solatium to farmers who had lost cows in the tiger attack. The rest of the amount will be given to them after completing the post-mortem procedures of the cow carcasses, they added.
Meanwhile, the additional district magistrate has imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CRP in some wards of nearby Poothadi village for two days in view of the mission to capture the tiger.
Despite efforts by the Wildlife Department to cage the animal, the tiger killed two more cows owned by a farmer in Kenichira village in the early hours.
He had earlier killed two other cows in the village.
Crouching on the busy road, protesters raised slogans and demanded that government authorities ensure the protection of their lives and livelihoods.
They displayed the carcasses of dead cows in a vehicle.
They demanded immediate intervention from the Wildlife Department to tranquilize the tiger and capture it as soon as possible. "The tiger should be shot dead. The Wildlife Protection Act should be amended by incorporating timely changes," one of the protesters demanded.
A local resident said they were afraid to send their children to school and visit neighboring houses due to constant fear of the big cat's presence in the area.
As the protest continued, Forest Minister AK Saseendran ordered wildlife officials to take necessary steps to capture the tiger.
Collector Renu Raj said if the animal could not be caged, steps would be taken to trap it after tranquilizing it.
The Chief Wildlife Warden has been directed to immediately grant permission for this after completing the necessary legal procedures, an official statement quoting her said.
Senior officials of the Wildlife Department rushed to the area and assured the villagers that necessary steps would be taken immediately to tranquilize the animal.
Measures have already been initiated to bring rapid response team personnel to the area as part of the mission to capture the animal, they said.
Forest officials also said that Rs 30,000 would be given as advance payment of solatium to farmers who had lost cows in the tiger attack. The rest of the amount will be given to them after completing the post-mortem procedures of the cow carcasses, they added.
Meanwhile, the additional district magistrate has imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CRP in some wards of nearby Poothadi village for two days in view of the mission to capture the tiger.
