Early return of cattle proposed as tiger attacks rise in plantations
Forest officials in Kerala are urging tea plantation managers to bring cattle into sheds by 3 p.m. to prevent tiger attacks. The rise in attacks is attributed to cattle being left to graze in plantations overnight, which attracts predators and disrupts their natural hunting instincts.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing human-wildlife conflict in India as predators adapt to human-dominated landscapes, posing risks to both livestock and local communities.
Amid recurring tiger attacks on cattle in the tea plantation areas of Devikulam and Munnar, the Forest department plans to direct plantation managements to ensure that livestock are brought into sheds early in the afternoon.
Tigers have been regularly preying on cattle across both forest ranges. According to Forest department officials, 34 cattle have been attacked under the Devikulam range in the past six months. However, plantation workers claim the real figure is close to 200 over the past year in both ranges.
Officials noted that workers often leave cattle in the tea estates to graze, with many remaining there overnight. “Easy prey availability has led to tigers camping in the tea plantations,” a senior forest official said. “The Forest department has repeatedly asked plantation companies to limit cattle numbers and prevent overnight grazing, but these requests have not yet been addressed.” said the official.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in