Tamil Nadu Forest Department steps up efforts to identify carnivore that attacked and killed man in Gudalur

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has ramped up their efforts to identify the carnivore responsible for the fatal attack that occurred in O’Valley, Gudalur on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The victim, 58-year-old M. Balakrishnan, was killed and partially eaten, most likely by a tiger, with his remains discovered the following day.

In response to the incident, the Forest Department has installed eight camera traps around the attack site to capture any clues that could lead to the identification of the animal responsible. However, the head of the Gudalur division, P. Devaraj, stated that the number of camera traps will be increased to 15 in the coming days as the focus intensifies on identifying the culprit.

Devaraj also mentioned that drone cameras were used to search for the animal, but they were unsuccessful in their attempts. The area where the attack took place shows signs of accidental encounter, as Balakrishnan had traveled over a kilometer from his house to fetch water for his field, potentially drawing the attention of the unsuspecting carnivore.

Forest officials suspect that the animal may have mistaken Balakrishnan for prey, as he was crouching and working near a water source. They also pointed out that wildlife movement within the heavily forested region is quite common.

The Forest Department has intensified patrols in the area and advised local residents to remain indoors after dark to minimize the risk of negative encounters with wildlife. While there have been no reports of cattle being killed in the vicinity, smaller livestock such as goats have been reported as prey in surrounding regions, most likely hunted by leopards.