Wayanad ghat pass I Photo: Sreejith P Raj
Kalpetta: The increasing wild animal attacks in Wayanad have made life very difficult in recent years. The attack of a tiger in a relatively peaceful location, which is otherwise not affected by any kind of threat, has sent shock waves across the district.
Thomas, a farmer, was killed in a tiger attack on Thursday near his house in Puthussery.
The Pandalur Makhna 2 (PM 2) elephant attacked a man in the Sulthan Bathery town a week ago. It shows that even city limits are not safe from wildlife attacks. These attacks are besides raids on the farmlands.
Recent encounters show no regard for seasons or timings (day or night).
In the past 12 years, the tiger population has multiplied several folds in Wayanad. In 2006, only 15 tigers were spotted in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. In 2018, it jumped to 120. Though 2022 data is not out yet, experts say it may go up to 157.
It has to be studied if the land is sufficient to accommodate such a large number of tigers. The Western Ghats reportedly accommodates one of the most dense populations of tigers in Asia.
If these were not enough, a crocodile attacked a woman who went to bathe in the Panamaram river on Wednesday.
Wayanad residents are looking for a permanent solution to animal threats.
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