Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve 
Tamil Nadu

Theni man dies in gaur attack, 4 held for hunting monitor lizard near Kalakkad

In two wildlife related incidents on Wednesday, a 42-year-old man was killed at Kolukkumalai village in Bodi Range, Theni district, after he was attacked by Indian Gaur and forest personnel in Kadayam, Tirunelveli district arrested four persons for hunting monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis), a protected species.

migrator

Madurai

The victim has been identified as Lakshmana Pandi of Kunjampatti village. The incident occurred on Tuesday night when he along with one Sekar (52) of Kodangipatti village was walking through the forest area, sources said. Sekar managed to escape with minor injuries.

Theni District Officer S Gowtham said that they were workers in tea estate at Kolukkumalai and the incident occurred when they came down to check an ATM. It could have been a sudden encounter with the animal and the gaur could have hit the victim by its horn. Further, Gowtham said immediate compensation of Rs 50,000 among the total compensation of Rs 4 lakh has been offered to kin of deceased.

Meanwhile, acting on a tip off, a team led by Kadayam Range Officer C Nellai Nayagam nabbed those accused belonging to Karuthapillaiyur. They have been identified as G John Vincent, K Suresh, J Antonravi and M Immanuel, sources said.

The Range Officer after investigating the accused, said they used to hunt monitor lizard with the help of dogs at Karuthapillaiyur and Senganoor villages under the Kadayam Range, Ambasamudram Division of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR). Two more, including M Ponnudurai and J Aravind are absconding, the officials said.

Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!

Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!

Click here for iOS

Click here for Android

Railway fares to go up from Dec 26, to yield Rs 600 crore extra revenue

Bangladesh: India suspends visa services after violent attack near its Chittagong mission

CM Stalin slams AIADMK leader EPS for keeping mum over MGNREGA issue

Delhi airport: 97 flights cancelled, over 200 services delayed due to fog

Fringe forces cannot derail Stalin govt, says Minister Sekarbabu, hits back at H Raja