Gonikoppal:  The operation by the Forest Department personnel, who have stayed put at Devarakaadu and Kottageri in Kodagu to capture the elusive tiger which had killed livestock of villagers and escaped by a whisker from being trapped, continued yesterday also, with morning mist hampering the operation due to low visibility.

The Forest personnel had placed a cage in the estate of Mapangada Sajjan Devaiah in Kottageri and had also tied a bait inside the cage which was killed by the tiger. The tiger had returned the next day early morning and had devoured a portion of the bait. But the Forest personnel could not make out the presence of the tiger due to mist which had hampered the visibility.

The Forest Department is also taking the assistance of tamed elephants – Abhimanyu, Krishna, Drona and Bheema and are patrolling the forest to trace the elusive tiger but in vain.

The Forest officials and staff from Nagarahole and Thittimathi and personnel of Rapid Force are camping in the forest to capture the tiger.

DFO Christharaj, ACF Paul Antony, Sripathi, RFO Gangadhar, Kiran and Ashok Hunagund are taking part in the operation along with other staff and are instilling confidence among the staff.

Meanwhile, JD(S) District President Meriyanda Sanketh Poovaiah, who is visiting the spot since four days, visited the spot yesterday morning too and collected information from the Forest authorities besides urging them to capture the tiger soon.