Tamil Nadu orders capture of tiger after second fatal attack in Gudalur

Tamil Nadu's Chief Wildlife Warden has ordered the capture of a tiger responsible for two fatal attacks in the Gudalur forest division. On Friday, August 21, 2026, the animal killed K. Ravikumar, 51, a resident of Lauriston Number 4, Vattaparai, Choondi, in the O'Valley range. The attack occurred in Lauriston, according to officials, who said an investigation at the site confirmed a tiger had killed him.

The same tiger had previously attacked and killed M. Balakrishnan, 58, on August 9, 2026, while he was trying to get water for his agricultural field from a stream near his house. Following that incident, drones were deployed to track the animal, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Camera traps placed around the area after the earlier death were monitoring the region. Officials did not state whether the tiger had been located as of the latest update.