No Sign of Tiger Yet; Over 50 Camera Traps and Drones Deployed
Malappuram (Kerala), May 17 — The search operation for the tiger that killed a rubber-tapping worker near Kalikavu continues for the third day, though forest officials on Saturday confirmed that there has been no trace of the animal so far.The forest department has deployed an extensive range of resources, including over 50 camera traps and thermal drone cameras, to scan the densely forested area where the attack occurred. However, no signs of the tiger have been detected.
DFO Transferred Amid Operations; Concerns Raised
In the ongoing manhunt, the Kerala government issued a transfer order for Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Dhanik Lal of Nilambur South, moving him to Thiruvananthapuram as Assistant Conservator of Forests. The current officer in that position has been reassigned as the new DFO of Nilambur South.The transfer decision is linked to an ongoing case under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the Muvattupuzha court, for which prosecution sanction is pending.
The move has sparked criticism from Congress MLA A P Anilkumar, who questioned the timing of the transfer. He warned that the decision must not derail the crucial search efforts underway.
"The government has the power to decide whom to transfer, but it should not result in the search operations being left leaderless," Anilkumar said, adding that the transfer cannot serve as an excuse for the state's failure to prevent such incidents.
DFO Outlines Challenges in Search Operation
Speaking earlier in the day, Dhanik Lal stated that the search operation was ongoing with maximum effort.“We use Google Maps and geo-tagging potential hideouts for better camera placement. Some areas have dense undergrowth that may serve as the tiger’s hideout,” he explained in a media interaction.
He added that discussions were underway with farmers and local panchayat authorities to clear the thick vegetation to improve visibility and safety.
Kumki Elephants, Tranquiliser Teams Join the Hunt
In addition to technological tools, the forest department has also deployed kumki elephants—trained captive tuskers—and three teams comprising 20 forest personnel each. These teams include veterinarians and are equipped with tranquilizer guns.The search began on Friday, a day after the tragic attack on 45-year-old Gafoor. The tiger dragged him into the forest while he was on his way to work with a colleague.
The forest department has reiterated its commitment to continue the search until the tiger is captured.
