Business · India Bureau
Tiger population surge in Kerala's Munnar triggers livestock concerns
Wildlife officials estimate around 25 tigers, including cubs, are inhabiting the plantation areas of Munnar, leading to increased livestock predation and renewed calls for animal relocation from human-dominated zones.
LSN India ·
The presence of a significant tiger population in Kerala's Munnar region has prompted fresh concerns among residents and political leaders over mounting attacks on cattle and other livestock in the tea and spice plantation belt.
According to assessments by the Communist Party of India (CPI), approximately 25 tigers—including several cubs—are currently roaming the forested plantation areas surrounding Munnar. The presence of this large predator population has created a delicate situation in a region where human settlements and agricultural activities are extensive.
The escalating incidents of tiger attacks on livestock have reignited the debate over wildlife management in the region. Local political representatives have called for the capture and relocation of these animals to areas with lower human population density, citing the dual risks posed to both human safety and rural livelihoods dependent on cattle herding.
The issue reflects the broader challenge of balancing tiger conservation efforts with the livelihood concerns of communities living on the periphery of wildlife habitats. Munnar, renowned for its plantations and biodiversity, sits at the intersection of human development and critical wildlife corridors in the Western Ghats.
Wildlife authorities have yet to announce specific measures to address the rising tensions between the tiger population and local residents, though the political pressure for intervention appears to be mounting.