The ailing tigress, around 13-years-old, was spotted around an abandoned quarry near Masinagudi town in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The forest department is monitoring an aged, ailing tigress that has taken shelter near Masinagudi town in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in the Nilgiris.
The animal is likely a resident animal as it has been captured in camera traps back in 2014. The tigress, believed to be ailing, was seen around an abandoned quarry near Masinagudi town in a patch of revenue land.
When contacted, P. Arunkumar, Deputy Director of MTR, told The Hindu that a team of forest staff have been deputed to constantly monitor the animal. “As it seems to be ailing due to natural causes, there is very little we can do, except to ensure that there are no negative interactions between the animal and people in the area,” he said.
The residents as well as cattle herders had been warned against venturing into the area where the tiger was spotted. Field staff also stated that the tiger, around 13-years-old, did not seem to have any serious injuries.
Forest officials said that they would continue to monitor the movement of the animal till it moves away into a forest, or till it passes away.
Published – August 24, 2025 04:25 pm IST
