KALPETTA: The tiger that attacked and killed a youth at Vakeri in Wayanad has been identified. The forest department informed that the youth was attacked by a 13-year-old male tiger named WWL45. This is the tiger that was in the sanctuary at the time of the tiger census.

A man-eating tiger should be shot only after identifying it as a man-eater. The search for the tiger is presently being focused in the areas of Moodakolly and Kudallur. The veterinary team is there. Reports said the 80-member special team of the forest department will reach the district today.

Prajeesh Kuttappan (36) of Kudallur was killed in an attack by the tiger a few days ago. The tiger attacked and killed him when he went to collect grass to feed his cattle. As he did not return even after several hours, his brother went searching for him and found his body. His body was half eaten. The area is a forest border zone.

The high court had the other day upheld the forest department's order to shoot the man-eating tiger that killed Prajeesh. A PIL filed by the Animals and Nature Ethics Community of Nettoor in Ernakulam against the killing of the tiger was dismissed after imposing a fine of Rs 25,000.