Tigress, four cubs suspected poisoned in Karnataka; probe ordered

Bengaluru: Forest and police officials have launched a search for a cattle owner believed to be linked to the suspected poisoning deaths of a tigress and her four cubs in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district.

The disturbing incident came to light on Thursday, initially with reports of a tigress and three cubs found dead. Authorities later confirmed that four cubs had perished alongside the tigress, all under unnatural circumstances.

The carcasses of the tigress and three cubs were discovered in the Meenyam forest area, within the Hoogyam range of the sanctuary.

Sources said the tigress had killed a cow and dragged the carcass into the forest, where she and three of her cubs partially consumed the meat. It is suspected that local villagers, upon discovering the cow’s remains, poisoned it. The tigress and her cubs are believed to have returned to the kill and died after ingesting the tainted meat.

The carcasses of the four cubs underwent post-mortem examination on Friday, a day after the tigress’s autopsy. All procedures were carried out in line with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.

Authorities have recovered the cow’s carcass and are working to trace its owner. Initial investigations point to suspected poisoning by local cattle owners.

Reacting to the incident, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra said on Friday, “The news of the death of five tigers, including a tigress, in the sacred hills of Male Mahadeshwara—a place where tigers are revered as the divine vehicle of Lord Mahadeshwara—is deeply shocking, inhumane, and distressing to devotees.”

"If poisoning is the cause of these deaths, it is a most heinous and condemnable act. I urge the investigation team constituted by the government to swiftly uncover the truth and bring the culprits to justice," he stated.

He called on the government to prioritise tiger conservation. “The responsibility of tiger protection rests with all of us,” he said, urging the government to launch focused initiatives using central schemes to safeguard the species.

In Bengaluru on Thursday, Forests, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre announced a formal inquiry into the incident, with instructions for officials to submit a detailed report within three days. The investigation will be led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF).

“Karnataka ranks second in the country in tiger population, with 563 individuals,” Khandre noted. “It is deeply saddening to learn of the unnatural deaths of a tigress and her cubs in a state renowned for its conservation record.”

Spanning 906 square kilometres, the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a rich array of wildlife, including tigers, elephants, and leopards.

(inputs from IANS)