Ponnampet: A tiger’s keen sense of smell and sound is being used as a weapon to trap the elusive male tiger that has spread terror in parts of South Kodagu. Urine, faeces and recordings of roaring sounds of female tigers have been obtained from the Mysuru Zoo and they will be used to lure the male tiger into particular places where sharp-shooters are waiting on ‘machaans’ (tree watch towers) to dart the big cat.
The tiger is giving a slip to the Forest Department that has deployed over 150 personnel including tracking experts, tribals who have innate knowledge of the big cats and sharp-shooters. Despite the best efforts since Feb. 20, the tiger that has killed a teenager and a 60-year-old woman along with a couple of cattle heads has not been traced so far.
