As the man, identified as Sathish, came out of his house in the tribal village at around 6.45 p.m, a tiger suddenly pounced on him, they added.
People in the neighbourhood managed to scare away the animal, even as Sathish sustained injuries on his thighs and abdomen, the department sources said.
He was rushed to the Government Hospital in Gudalur, some 80 KMs from here.