H.D. Kote: A male tiger, estimated to be five to six years old, which had been frequently sighted in Hosaholalu village and surrounding areas while preying on livestock, was finally trapped in a Forest Department cage on Monday.

The tiger had been roaming the fringe villages of the Antharasanthe Range in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve for several days, killing cattle and triggering panic among residents.

Fearing for their safety, villagers had even stopped venturing into their fields for agricultural work.

Following repeated appeals from locals, Forest officials monitored the tiger’s movements and set up a walk-through cage in the farmland of Bhyregowda. The tiger was captured there at dawn.

Forest staff and veterinarian Dr. Ramesh rushed to the spot and tranquillised the animal before relocating it to a safe location.

After examining the tiger, the veterinarian found it to be in good health and recommended that it be released back into the wild.

Accordingly, the tiger was released into the forest, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Director P.A. Seema told Star of Mysore.

Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Madhu, Range Forest Officers (RFOs) Hanumantharaju and S.S. Siddaraju, STPF personnel and other Forest Department staff were present during the operation.