Tiger that killed Adivasi woman in Nilgiris captured

An aged male tiger that is believed to have killed an Adivasi woman in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) was captured by the Forest department on Thursday (December 11, 2025).

The tiger, identified as MDT-37, is believed to have attacked and killed B. Nagi, a shepherd who was herding goats on November 24 in Mavanallah. After the incident, the Forest department installed around 30 camera traps in the region to identify the animal. Images from the camera traps placed around the area led to the animal being identified as MDT-37, an aged male tiger that has suffered injuries to its face, leading to it not being able to hunt wild prey.

The Forest department, in a press release, said that following the attack, four teams were formed to track the animal using camera traps and thermal drone cameras. A total of 29 camera traps were also placed around the area to track the animal’s movements, while cages with live bait were placed to lure the animal and trap it.

Based on the instructions of the Chief Wildlife Warden and the Field Director of MTR, a special team was also formed to oversee the capture of the tiger. Four cages were placed in the surrounding areas to trap the animal, officials stated.

On Thursday morning, the tiger was trapped inside one of the cages placed in Chemmanatham in MTR, with photographic confirmation being made to ensure that the tiger captured was indeed MDT-37.

The Forest department stated that the tiger was captured without being sedated. R. Kiruba Shankar, Field Director of MTR, said that the tiger cannot be released back into the wild as it had injuries to its face and had also lost its molar teeth due to old-age. “We think that the tiger is at least 15 years old and has been unable to hunt, causing it to prey on cattle,” said Mr. Kiruba Shankar. He added that the tiger will be taken to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai after being assessed by a Forest department veterinarian.