Thiruvananthapuram: Three forest officials who went missing during a tiger population survey inside the Bonacaud inner forest were found safe on Tuesday morning after an overnight search operation.

A rescue team located them at Arattumukku, a remote and densely wooded area near Bonacaud, and is escorting them back to safety.

The missing personnel, Vineetha, a woman forester with the Palode Range Office, BFO Rajesh and forest watcher Rajesh, had entered the forest on Monday morning as part of a routine tiger census. They were expected to return by evening, but communication was lost after they ventured deeper into the forest.

When repeated attempts to reach them failed, the Forest Department launched a search late on Monday night. The Rapid Response Team (RRT), assisted by local forest staff familiar with the terrain, carried out combing operations through the night.

The Bonakkad region lies along the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border and includes the ecologically sensitive Agasthyarmala belt, an area known for steep terrain, limited network access and the presence of wild animals, intensifying concerns.

Senior officials, including the Divisional Forest Officer, monitored the mission and reached the site early on Tuesday. Forest Minister AK Saseendran confirmed that all three officials are safe and being brought out.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the team may have strayed from the mapped survey route, and thick canopy cover made communication nearly impossible. Medical teams are on standby, though initial reports suggest the officials are unharmed.

With the rescue complete, the Forest Department is expected to review safety protocols for personnel engaged in wildlife surveys in high-risk zones.

IANS