Environmentalists seek probe into tiger deaths in Kerala's Wayanad

Thiruvananthapuram: Environmentalists have sought a probe by the Centre into the recent tiger deaths in Kerala's Wayanad district.

Wayanad Prakruti Samrakshana Samiti, a forum of environmentalists, have urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to conduct a study into the 'suspicious' deaths of four tigers at Wayanad recently.

In a letter sent to MoEFCC, the forum said that a detailed study on the tiger conflict in Wayanad, other man-animal conflicts, and forest department's response systems should be initiated. In view of the increasing instances of man-animal conflicts, there is also a need to bring in fresh guidelines on the matter, said the letter.

The president of the forum N Badusha said that at least eight persons were killed in tiger attacks in the region in the last ten years. Moreover, the zoos and tiger rehabilitation centres in the state are already full, he mentioned. Hence, urgent interventions are required, he added.