Debate over identity of killed tiger

Komal Vally Nair, Kochi.

A storm of controversy continues to rage over the identity of the tiger that was shot dead on Wednesday after it killed two persons in Wayanad last week

While forest officials involved in tracking the animal assert that it was the man-eater that was killed, some wildlife experts express doubts over the identity of the animal.

The man-eater? The tiger that was shot dead near Gudalur

Confirming its identity, Ullas Karanth, renowned tiger conservationist, says the animal was photographed and an ID created three years ago. The data were compared with the photograph of the big cat after it was killed, Dr. Karanth says.

O.P. Kaler, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Biodiversity Cell), while admitting that conclusive evidence is yet to be obtained on the identity of the animal, says available information has led to the conclusion that it is the man-eater that was eliminated.

The pug marks have to be correlated with other features to ascertain the identity of the animal. Though the department is yet to obtain accurate scientific proof to establish the identity, available information leads to the conclusion that it is the troublemaker that was killed, he says.

Forest officials have sent the hair samples of the animal, collected from the site where a farmer was mauled to death, for DNA analysis. The DNA samples of the animal will also be compared, he says.

Trailed through camera

Pramod G. Krishnan, Conservator of Forest who led the Kerala Forest Team in the operation, affirms that it is the same tiger that was killed. People saw the tiger while it attacked a woman in Tamil Nadu. The stripes on the animal were compared with the camera trap images available with the department. The movement of the tiger in question was trailed through camera trap images. The animal was found operating in around 10 sq km area, he says.

The pugmark evidence also led to the conclusion that the man-eater had been shot dead.

There were three large wounds in its shoulder and body, which must be the result of a fight with another tiger. There was also a deep cut on its paw, which restricted its movements, he says.

Meanwhile, a wildlife expert, who did not want to be quoted, says that no efforts were made to confirm the identity of the man-eater before the tiger was shot dead. It appeared to be a healthy adult male and its teeth were all intact.

The lesion on its body has bullet wounds. Pug marks cannot be considered as instant evidence to establish its identity as it has to be correlated with at least nine factors, including its length and breadth, distance between the toes and pad, he said.