Villagers panic after tiger kills goats and dog in Erode

According to the forest department, Kembappa (59), a farmer from Neithalapuram village near Thalavadi, on Wednesday, had tethered his goats and cows in the backyard of his house and had left a watchdog to safeguard them.

The farmer had stayed in his cornfield and his wife Rathinammal was at home. Late in the night, a tiger strayed out of the forest in Thalavadi and attacked two goats and the dog to death. One of the carcasses of the goat was found a little distance away, left after consumption by the carnivore. The incident came to light only on Thursday morning when Rathinammal found the goats and dog lying dead. 

On receiving information, the Thalavadi forest department staff rushed to the spot. On examination, they confirmed the footmarks to be that of a tiger. 

Villagers panicked with fear as the tiger could retreat again. “The forest department should ensure that the animal is driven into the deep jungles. The movement of tiger should be monitored and if required, it should be trapped and translocated,” said R Veerappa, a farmer from Neithalapuram village.  They also sought the forest department to compensate the farmer, who lost his cattle in the tiger attack.