Hanagod: A tiger, aged about 6 years, which was creating havoc in villages bordering the forest and attacking livestock, was trapped in a cage near Hanagod village in Hunsur yesterday and has been shifted to Bannerghatta in Bengaluru.

Following complaints from villagers about the tiger causing problems, the Forest Department had placed a cage in an agricultural field at Hemmige village near Hanagod and had kept meat inside the cage to lure the tiger into it.

The tiger, which caught the scent of meat, walked into the cage and was trapped inside. The tiger, which became aggressive once it found out that it cannot escape, rammed itself against the cage many times in a bid to escape causing minor injuries. The tiger was tranquillised and on examining it, the tiger was found healthy.

It is learnt that the tiger was earlier spotted three to four times near the field of one Siddegowda in Hemmige village following which a cage installed with a trip wire was placed in the field and meat was placed to lure the tiger.

Yesterday early morning, when the tiger walked into the cage, its leg touched the trip wire triggering the door of the cage to close immediately and it was trapped inside. Once trapped inside the cage, the tiger began to growl loudly alerting the villagers, who then informed the Forest                                                                    Department officials.

The trapped tiger was earlier spotted in Veeranahosahalli Range in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. But since a few months, it had come out of the forest and had stayed put in Beeratammanahalla Mini Forest and used to attack livestock, especially cattle which were left for grazing in Beeratammanahalli, Hemmige, Shettahalli, B.R. Kaval, Kachuvanahalli and Negatur villages. So far, the tiger had killed 18 cows in this region and had also attempted to attack farmers.

Following complaints from the villagers, the Forest Department officials and staff had placed a cage and were successful in trapping the tiger, much to the relief of villagers.