Vandiperiyar: A tiger that was captured in Munnar and released into the dense forests of the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Gavi has once again entered a residential area in Thankamala, causing concern among local residents. Forest Department officials have confirmed that the animal is currently in the Thankamala–Mattupetty Sixth Number area.

Following the tiger’s reappearance near human habitation, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Monitoring Committee held an online meeting and decided that the animal would be trapped again. Accordingly, two cages have been set up in the area overnight.

Since the tiger is fitted with a radio collar, the Forest Department has intensified monitoring of its movements. Officials have also sought guidance from the NTCA on whether the animal should be released back into deep forest after capture or relocated to a zoo.

The tiger had earlier created panic in residential areas of Munnar on April 2. It was subsequently moved to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and released into the forest. A team of 10 forest guards had been tracking the animal for the past three weeks.

On Saturday night at around 10 pm, Shekhar, a resident of Thankamala Moolakkayam in the Mattupetty Sixth Number area, spotted the tiger jumping into a tea estate and immediately alerted forest officials. A larger team of forest personnel arrived at the scene by around 11 pm, intensifying surveillance under the leadership of R. Lakshmi, Assistant Field Director of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Rapid Response Team (RRT) members were also deployed, while Kottayam DFO Praful Agarwal reached the site shortly thereafter.

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Armed personnel have been stationed within a 100-metre radius of the area, and officials said the tiger is currently within the forested zone of the Sixth Number region. The Forest Department has reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm and expressed hope that the animal will return deeper into the forest by night.

Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G. Krishnan is closely monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from field officers.

Around 100 personnel, including five Range Forest Officers, RRT teams and Viper units, remain deployed across multiple locations. Idukki District Collector Dr Dinesan Cheruvatt and senior forest officials are also reviewing the situation continuously.