Tiger T-37 that killed woman captured in Nilgiris

The male tiger identified as T-37, which had been terrorising villages in the Nilgiris for over two weeks and was responsible for the death of a 60-year-old woman, has finally been trapped in a cage set up by the Forest Department, bringing much-needed relief to residents.
On November 24, Nagiyammal (60) of the Mavanalla area near Gudalur was killed in a tiger attack, sparking widespread fear among villagers in Masinagudi, Mavanalla and nearby hamlets. Residents demanded that the man-eater be captured immediately.
Following this, forest officials tracked the tiger’s movements and placed five cages at various strategic points where the animal was known to roam. They also installed 29 surveillance cameras to closely monitor its behaviour. Investigations confirmed that the animal responsible for the attack was an old male tiger.
A team of 110 forest personnel, split into four groups, was deployed for round-the-clock patrolling. Despite several attempts, the tiger initially avoided all cages and continued to stray into villages, killing livestock and instilling fear among residents. School students in the area were even transported in special vehicles arranged by the Revenue Department as a safety measure.
Early this morning, the breakthrough came when T-37 was finally trapped in one of the cages placed near Mavanalla. Forest officials and veterinarians rushed to the spot and examined the animal. It was identified as a 12-year-old male tiger. Officials noted that due to its age, the tiger was unable to hunt effectively in the wild and had turned to attacking people and
livestock.
The tiger is currently under continuous monitoring by the Forest Department and veterinary team. Authorities said they are evaluating whether to release the animal deep inside the forest or shift it to a wildlife rescue centre.
Villagers, who had lived in fear for the past 16 days, expressed immense relief as news of the tiger’s capture spread across the region.