Mankulam (Idukki) ∙ A tribal farmer hacked to death a tiger that jumped out of the forest to attack. Gopalan (48) from Chikkanamkudi Adivasi Sanctuary was injured in the tiger attack and admitted to Adimali Taluk Hospital. Both Gopalan’s hands were scratched by the tiger. His right arm was also broken.
Forest Minister A. K. Saseendran instructed the officials that Gopalan killed the tiger in self-defense and not to file a case. Neetu Lakshmi, Chief Forest Conservator, Southern Region (Kottayam) informed that the government will fully bear the cost of Gopalan’s treatment.
The incident took place at seven in the morning yesterday near Chikkanamkudi tribal colony in Mankulam forest division. While walking to the farm, a tiger jumped on Gopalan from the roadside forest. Gopalan cut the tiger’s hand and above the eye with the sword he kept in his waist. The fallen tiger died on the spot.
It was a 10-year-old female tiger. The forest guards said that it is a tiger that has lost its molars and is unable to hunt its prey. On Thursday, a tiger got caught in a plastic net tied around a chicken coop in this area and broke the net and ran away. The post-mortem of the tiger will be conducted today at Mankulam Forest Range Office. As part of the procedures, the forest department will investigate the incident.
Mankulam Forest Range Officer B. Prasadkumar said that the cage had been set up to catch the tiger. Chief Forest Conservator Neetu Lakshmi, Mankulam DFO Jayachandran Gopalan and Idukki Vigilance Flying Squad DFO Shantri Tom visited Gopalan at the hospital.
English Summary: Tribal Man killed Leopard in Mankulam, Idukki