Injured ageing tiger caught in cage in O-Valley near Gudalur

Gudalur | 23 October 2026 — Update

An injured, ageing male tiger moving through the O-Valley area near Gudalur in the Nilgiris was caught in a cage placed by the Forest Department on the morning of 22 October. Two later reports say the animal was shifted to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve after examination by veterinarians.

The tiger is suspected of preying on livestock around O-Valley in recent weeks. Forest officials quoted by DT Next and Hindu Tamil Thisai said the animal was about 12 to 13 years old, had injuries and appeared to have lost much of its ability to hunt.

• Location: O-Valley area, Gudalur, Nilgiris district
• Capture: morning of 22 October 2026
• Status: the injured, ageing male tiger was caught in a Forest Department cage
• Confirmed next step: shifted to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve after veterinary examination
• Further action: it may be sent to Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur after the required procedures; this article does not state that transfer has been completed

Verification note

DT Next and Hindu Tamil Thisai independently reported that the tiger was shifted to Mudumalai. Dinamani said it was sent to Vandalur, while the other two reports said a Vandalur transfer would follow medical and health assessment at Mudumalai. This update therefore uses only the confirmed detail on which the reports agree.

Image note: AI-generated representative illustration. It is not an actual-event photograph and does not depict the exact tiger or cage involved. Image: OpenAI / MyNilgiris.