WAYANAD: As the number of big cat attacks on cattle increases, the agrarian community fears that the big cat population in the region is going up.
Over 100 tigers are roaming in the wildlife region of Wayanad with two forest divisions and one wildlife sanctuary. The number of leopards would be higher, it was pointed out. Many of them are aged and the loss of canine teeth either in fight with other animals or due to ageing might force them to attack domestic animals.
In one week there were over ten incidents of cattle attacks from the interior hamlets of Wayanad scaring the farmers who live on the edge of forest and also in interior jungle hamlets.
Three animals, including one tiger and two leopards, were caged by the forest department in a week. Two animals were trapped by the forest department after the local people raise much hue and cry as the animals attacked even cattle tied up in the stable during night.
Forest veterinary officer Dr Arun Zachariah told Deccan Chronicle that the increase in the number of big cats may not be the reason for the increase in attacks on cattle. "Such incidents are very less in the wildlife sanctuary area as the number of prey species is high whereas the attacks are high in plantation area where the prey species has declined," he said. However, Mr Zachariah said that though the number of tiger population has increased, the tigers rarely enter human habitats if they are physically fit. They roam into human habitats due to physical handicaps after conflict with other animals and due to ageing issues.
"All the four canine teeth of a tiger recently captured were missing which forced it to hunt for cattle tied up in the stables," he said. On the leopard attacks, he said the animal is a versatile species which will adapt to any situation.
However, North Wayanad DFO R. Keerthy, who is also in charge of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, told DC that there is no such high intensity of big cat attacks in the region. There were only a few stray incidents. "Wherever such incidents occurred we try to catch the animal and rehabilitate it if it is physically incapacitated," she said. Many of them turned to easy hunters targeting domestic animals as the canine teeth were gone. "In all the three forest divisions of Wayanad, there are issues but not alarming," she said.
