Tiger trapped in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta after repeated attacks on livestock

An adult tiger, which frequently enters human settlements and attacks domestic animals, was trapped by the Forest department in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district on Monday, December 22, 2025, officials said.

According to forest officials, the presence of the tiger was reported in the last two months following repeated attacks on domestic animals at Kumbalathamon near Vadasserikara.

Forest department personnel later set camera traps and confirmed the presence of the stray tiger.

Authorities said the tiger killed buffalos, dogs and goats belonging to farms and residences in Kumbalathamon, which is close to the forest area.

The tiger killed a goat on Sunday and its carcass was found at an isolated spot near the forest, an official said.

Later, forest officials set up a cage trap containing the carcass used as bait near the place where the goat was found dead.

The tiger was trapped in the cage when it returned to eat the carcass early Monday, officials said.

medical examination

The captured tiger will be transported to a nearby forest station for medical examination.

A decision will be made later on whether the animal will be released back into the wild or kept in captivity, an official said.

While the authorities announced that the tiger did not attack people, residents of the region panicked due to frequent animal killings.