Tiger responsible for two fatal attacks in Gudalur to be captured
A tiger in the Gudalur forest division of Tamil Nadu, responsible for two fatal attacks on humans, has been ordered to be captured by the Chief Wildlife Warden. The incidents led to local protests against the Forest Department's initial inaction, and efforts to capture the animal are now underway.
Why it matters
This highlights the escalating human-wildlife conflict in India, particularly concerning endangered species like tigers, and the challenges faced by authorities in balancing conservation with public safety.
The Chief Wildlife Warden of Tamil Nadu has ordered the capture of a tiger that killed a second person in Lauriston in O’Valley range in the Gudalur forest division on Friday (August 21, 2026).
The animal had earlier attacked and killed M. Balakrishnan, 58, on August 9, 2026 while he was trying to get water for his agricultural field from a stream near his house. Following the incident, drones were deployed to track the tiger responsible for the attack, but the efforts went in vain.
On Friday, a second confirmed attack led to the death of K. Ravikumar, 51, a resident of Lauriston Number 4, Vattaparai, Choondi. Officials said that investigations conducted at the site of the attack showed that a tiger had killed Ravikumar, while camera traps placed around the area following the earlier death also confirmed the presence of a tiger.
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