Tiger caught at Vakeri | Photo: Shameer Machingal
Mananthavady: Six people have been killed in tiger attacks in Wayanad district during the past eight years.
The latest episode was on Thursday when farmer Thomas alias Salu was attacked near his home in Puthussery, a locality that is not close to the forest and does not have a history of wild animal attacks.
On February 10, 2015,Bhaskaran (56) from Mookkuthi Kunnu in Noolpuzha grama panchayat was killed in a tiger attack. The body parts were found scattered in the forest. The tiger had devoured him.
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A week later, Mahalakshmi, 30, an estate worker, fell prey to the attack by the same tiger. She was working in the tea estate in the bordering village when the tiger pounced on her. She was a Tamil Nadu native.
Following these incidents, the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department ordered killing of the tiger. In a matter of weeks, the big cat was shot dead.
In July, the same year, a 23-year-old tribal youth was eaten by a tiger in the Kurichiyad settlement in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kattunayaka youth had ventured into the forest to collect produce.
Basava (44), a forest watcher in Kakkery colony, was the next victim. He was killed in tiger attack in November 2015.
Jadayan (60), another tribal man was killed while collecting forest produce on December 24, 2019.
On June 16, 2020, a 24-year-old tribal youth was mauled to death in Pulpally. Basavan Kolly Kattunaykka colony resident Shivakumar was the victim.