Search ops gain momentum after elusive tiger T-23 caught on camera

The search operations have gained momentum after the movement of the elusive tiger, coded T-23, was captured on camera in the Bospara area, Tamil Nadu forest officials said on Tuesday.

Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu):The forest department which is on a mission to capture the elusive tiger, coded T-23, in the Gudalur forest area on Tuesday issued a statement that the movement of the tiger in the Bospara area was captured on camera.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Neeraj said, "After the movement of T-23 was captured in the camera trap at Ombetta junction after a gap of 6 days, the search has resumed this morning. One group went from Kundithal camp to Ombetta junction. Another group went to Ombetta from Chinnakalli. Mudumalai staff went from Linganagalli to Bospara. Meanwhile, a search operation was being carried out in the Daven Estate and Mayfield Estate areas too."

"Today, about 30 staff were involved in the search operation. The search will resume Wednesday after analysing the camera trap images," he said.

Read: We will capture T23 tiger 'alive', says TN's Chief Wildlife Warden

The mission to capture T23, which reportedly killed four people and 12 cattle in Nilgiris district, has been going on for over two weeks. More than a hundred foresters, four veterinary teams, two kumki elephants, three sniffer dogs, and 65 cameras have been deployed in the Masinagudi forest area to capture the tiger.

The Madras High Court, on October 5, ordered the Tamil Nadu Forest Department not to kill the elusive tiger instead, capture it alive. Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee said, "don't kill it. Capture the tiger without disturbing other animals."