Kalikavu (Malappuram): The Kerala Forest Department has said it will not relent until the man-eating tiger roaming the Adayakkakundu hill range is captured. Despite four days of intensive search, no clear signs of the tiger have been found. However, its presence has been confirmed in the area where tapping worker Gafoor Ali was killed.
In a bid to strengthen surveillance, five new live-streaming cameras—capable of capturing both visuals and sound in real time—have been installed in the region. These, along with drones and the 50 cameras deployed in the first phase of the operation, are being used to track the animal. Officials monitor the memory cards from these cameras to confirm wildlife movement.
Nilambur South Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) G. Dhanik Lal said a third cage has also been installed, and the team is expanding. A 60-member search party, led by Chief Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Arun Zachariah, is currently involved in the operation. The DFO added that additional personnel will be deployed, and awareness campaigns will be conducted to ease local fears.
One major challenge has been the dense undergrowth, especially in rubber plantations, which hinders the movement of the trained Kumki elephants used in the operation.
Frustration is growing among local residents, who staged a protest march demanding swift action. With a standing advisory against venturing outdoors due to the confirmed presence of wild animals, daily life has been severely affected. Plantation workers, dairy farmers, and smallholders cultivating rubber, areca nut, and coconut are facing serious disruptions to their livelihoods.
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