Mudumalai reserve: Forest officials put up CCTVs in 40 spots after 10 tigers die in a month

One person was arrested after lab report proved two tigers were poisoned

According to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve field director D Venkatesh,  authorities put up CCTV cameras across the reserve. "We have installed CCTV cameras in 40 spots and are intensively monitoring the area. The cameras are being monitoring the cameras every 4-5 days," the director added. 

He added that one person was arrested in connection with the poisoning. "Two adult tigers were poisoned in the Emerald area of the Nilgiri forest division. We got a lab report also. One accused has also been arrested. We have seen identical footmarks in 6-7 places," Venkatesh said. 

The carcasses of the tigers were found near a dead cow that triggered the probe into whether the animals were poisoned. The arrest was made following the probe and local media reports identified him as a farmer who owned the cow. The owner reportedly told the police that Sekar had discovered the cow's remains after it had been missing for some time. 

On finding the his cow's carcass, the farmer poisoned it with insecticide. The tigers consumed it, killing them. The carcasses were found near Avalanche Dam.

The deaths triggered a furore after a team from the National Tiger  Conservation Authority (NTCA) had visited the reserve last week. While  two cubs were found in Siriyur forest area, four cubs were found in Nilgiris territorial forest division area along with three adult tigers. One adult tiger was found dead in the core area of the reserve.