Foresters capture cattle-killing tiger in Hunsur

Mysuru: Three weeks after a trap was laid to capture a tiger that was attacking and killing cattle in Hunsur region, a big cat walked into a trap in Hunsur early on Wednesday.

Residents in and around Kudlur village, where the big cat was captured, have heaved a sigh of relief. This is the first time a tiger has fallen into a trap cage in the recent past in Mysuru. Foresters placed a room-like cage, which is popularly known as Tumakuru cage, following complaints of cattle being killed by a tiger in the region.

The rescued tiger, which is hale and hearty, is likely to be released into the forest after examination as the big cat is in its prime age and would be helpful in increasing the tiger population in the wild, officials said.

Deputy conservator of forests (territorial) RT Kirubananthan said that the rescued big cat is a tigress and aged around 3 years. The big cat was found inside a trap cage around 6am on Wednesday. The trap cage was placed three weeks earlier following repeated complaints of livestock killing.

After conducting a recce, foresters identified a place to place the cage in Kudlur village after pug marks of the big cat were found at multiple locations there. Finally, the big cat was rescued from the region, the DCF explained.

According to the foresters, the nearest reserve forest area is some 15-20 km away from the spot. Officials have urged villagers to remain cautious.

What is Tumukuru model cage

The Tumakuru model cage was developed by Tumakuru forest authorities as an alternate cage to trap prowling big cats. As leopards that were repeatedly attacking livestock in Tumakuru were evading old trap cages, the size of which was as small as 4 ft x 6 ft, foresters came up with a room-like cage — measuring 10 ft x 10 ft, similar to that of a 100 sq ft room. It helped foresters capture a leopard that claimed four lives in T Narasipura taluk in Mysuru and now a tiger that was attacking cattle in Hunsur taluk. Even big cats were successfully trapped in neighbouring Chamarajanagar district too.