Kalpetta: Forest department has revealed that only 84 tigers are left in Wayanad's Kottiyoor and Aralam altogether. The alarming revelation even specified that 3 tigers have died last year and almost 6 tigers were captured from inhabited areas by the officials. Tigers were caged from Vakeri, Mullankolli, Panavally areas.

This disclosure was made after a bizarre information was circulated that almost 154 tigers are living in the wildlife sanctuary even though the reality was completely different. To dispel rumours, the forest department released a detailed report regarding the numbers.

They even shared an earlier incident that happened in Mullankolly of a tiger getting trapped, which was included in the 2021 count of Nagarahole National Park. Similarly tigers of Bandipur, Nagarahole Tiger Reserves also reach Wayanad and may be included in the count.  

Reports furnished in 2018 account for 120 tigers at that time but 2022 reports witnessed a significant drop of 40 tigers. Recent annual report of 2023 released by the forest department shows a slight increase in the number at 84 but compared to other places the count seems very low.

These tigers are inhabited in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary's two forest divisions Aralam and Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary which is 1138 sq kilometres open land.

Complete reports and statistics are available on the forest department's website www.forest.kerala.gov.in.