TN Forest Department Increases Surveillance After Fatal Tiger Attack

Following the tragic death of 38-year-old M. Kendhar Kuttan in a tiger attack in the Nilgiris, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has stepped up its surveillance efforts to ensure public safety.

Kuttan, a member of the Toda tribal community, was found dead in thick vegetation after searching for a missing buffalo in the forest. In response, the department has deployed a 20-member team to patrol the area round-the-clock and monitor the tiger’s movements.

They have also placed 15 camera traps and set up cages to safely capture the animal. This incident marks the second fatal attack in the region in just two weeks, following a leopard attack that claimed the life of a 50-year-old woman.

The Nilgiris, known for having the highest tiger population in India, continues to face challenges with increasing man-animal conflicts. MP A. Raja visited the victim’s family, offering Rs 10 lakh as compensation and promising a special scheme to address these frequent incidents.

The area is part of a larger forest stretch that spans Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with a growing tiger population that has quadrupled in the last two decades.