AGED TIGER : Mudumalai forest department intensifies manhunt fourth cage deployed to trap ‘Aged’ tiger following fatal attack on 65 years old tribal woman

MUDUMALAI: The tension gripping the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) has reached a fever pitch as forest department officials have significantly escalated their capture operations. As of Thursday, December 11, the department has deployed a fourth Trap Cage in the Singara Forest Range, a strategic move aimed at apprehending an elusive Aged Tiger believed to be responsible for the mauled death of a tribal woman late last month. The decision to increase the number of traps follows fresh intelligence and sightings, marking a critical phase in an operation that has kept the region on high alert for over two weeks.

Post-Capture Protocol: Lifetime Captivity for the ‘Conflict Animal’

Forest officials have clarified that once the operation concludes successfully, the Aged Tiger will not be released back into the wild, adhering strictly to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines for managing Conflict Animals. Given the predator’s advanced age and its confirmed habituation to human prey, releasing it would pose an unacceptable risk to public safety. Instead, plans are already in motion to transport the Aged Tiger to the Advanced Rescue Center at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Vandalur Zoo). Upon capture, a team of veterinarians will conduct a thorough Medical Examination to assess the extent of its injuries and physical decline, ensuring the animal spends its remaining years in secure captivity rather than facing elimination.

Escalation of Operation Tiger Hunt

The atmosphere in the Singara and Mavanallah regions remains charged with fear and urgency. Following the tragic death of 65-year-old B. Nagiyammal, officials initially placed three cages at strategic choke points used by the predator. However, the strategy was recalibrated on Wednesday after locals reported a terrifying sighting of the Aged Tiger moving through the undergrowth near a private school. This proximity to human infrastructure necessitated the immediate deployment of the fourth cage.

M.G. Ganesan, the Deputy Director of MTR, confirmed that the operation has been intensified to reassure the panic-stricken local population. The forest department has abandoned standard patrolling in favor of a high-tech dragnet. The search is no longer just a foot patrol; it is a coordinated military-style operation involving Thermal Drones capable of detecting the Aged Tiger‘s heat signature through the dense canopy, and over 29 Camera Traps positioned within a three-kilometer radius of the attack site. These cameras are crucial for tracking the movement patterns of the Man-Eater and determining its precise health condition.

The Tragic Catalyst: Death of B. Nagiyammal

The urgency of the current operation is rooted in the horrific event of November 24, 2025. B. Nagiyammal, a resident of the Mavanallah Tribal Settlement, was viciously attacked while grazing her goats on patta land near the forest fringe. The predator, utilizing the cover of dense bushes, ambushed the victim and dragged her body toward a stream, a classic behavior of a tiger securing its kill.

The incident sparked immediate and volatile Public Protests, with villagers blocking roads and demanding the immediate neutralization of the Aged Tiger. The community argued that the Forest Department had failed to prevent the Aged Tiger from venturing into human settlements. While the victim’s family was provided with immediate financial compensation, the psychological scar on the village remains unhealed. The fear is so pervasive that the usually busy agrarian workforce has refused to enter the fields, crippling the local Livelihood which depends heavily on cattle grazing and tea plantation work.

Profile of the Predator: A Geriatric Threat

Wildlife experts and veterinarians involved in the operation have constructed a profile of the suspect animal that paints a grim picture. Evidence from Camera Trap Images and the nature of the attack strongly suggests the predator is a Geriatric Male Tiger, estimated to be around 15 years old. In the wild, a Aged Tiger of this advanced age typically suffers from worn-out Canine Teeth, deteriorating vision, and a loss of muscle mass required to hunt agile prey like spotted deer or Indian gaur.

This physical decline forces the animal out of the core forest areas and into the Buffer Zones where prey is easier to catch. Tracking data indicates that prior to killing Nagiyammal, the tiger had made unsuccessful attempts to bring down two cows. These failed hunts suggest the animal is weak, desperate, and potentially starving, making it exceptionally dangerous to humans who are viewed as “soft targets.” Unlike a healthy tiger that avoids human contact, an Aged Tiger driven by hunger loses its natural fear, leading to the type of Human-Wildlife Conflict currently witnessed in Mudumalai.

CONTINUE READING WITH JUNGLETAK – AGED TIGER

Challenges of the Terrain and Future Safety

One of the significant hurdles facing the four special teams is the challenging topography of the Nilgiris District. The area surrounding Mavanallah is a patchwork of tea gardens, human settlements, and dense thickets of Lantana Camara, an invasive weed that provides perfect camouflage for a stalking tiger. This vegetation makes visibility extremely poor, rendering foot patrols dangerous and increasing reliance on aerial surveillance.

The Forest Department has issued strict warnings through public address systems, advising residents to avoid the forest fringes during the dawn and dusk hours—the prime hunting time for big cats. As the sun sets on December 11, the entire region waits with bated breath, hoping the fourth cage will finally end the reign of fear that has paralyzed the Mudumalai hills. The capture of this Aged Tiger is not just about animal control; it is about restoring peace to a community living on the fragile edge of the wilderness.