A tragic incident in Karnataka's Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary (MMWS) has resulted in the deaths of a tigress and her four cubs, with authorities arresting three individuals in connection to the crime. The incident, which occurred in the Hugyam forest range, is suspected to be an act of revenge by a local farmer whose cow was killed by wild animals.
On June 26, forest guards discovered the carcasses of the tigress and her cubs during a routine patrol in the Meenyam range of MMWS, triggering immediate concern among conservationists. Preliminary investigations indicated that the deaths were unnatural, prompting the State's Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Eshwar Khandre, to order a thorough probe into the cause of death.
The investigation quickly gained momentum after authorities discovered the carcass of a cow near the site where the tigers were found. Forest officials suspected that the cow carcass had been poisoned and consumed by the tigress and her cubs. This suspicion was confirmed, leading to the arrest of Maada alias Maaduraju, the cow's owner, and his friends Konappa and Nagaraju.
According to forest officials, Maaduraju was enraged after his cow, named 'Kenchi', was killed by a wild animal. In an act of revenge, he allegedly sprayed poison on the cow's carcass, which was then consumed by the tigress. The tigress later returned with her cubs to feed on the carcass again, resulting in the death of all five animals.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and concern, especially given Karnataka's status as one of the leading states in tiger conservation. With 563 tigers, Karnataka holds the second-largest tiger population in India, after Madhya Pradesh. From 2012 to 2024, the state recorded 179 tiger deaths, highlighting the ongoing challenges in protecting these animals.
The incident has triggered political reactions, with the opposition BJP accusing the government of negligence in protecting wildlife. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised action following a detailed report, and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has vowed strict punishment for those involved.
This tragic event has reignited the debate surrounding human-wildlife conflict in the region. The larger landscape of Bandipur, Nagarahole, and M.M. Hills is known for such conflicts, where humans and predators struggle to coexist. One factor contributing to the conflict is that compensation for livestock killed by tigers is often only provided when the incident occurs outside protected areas. This can incentivize retaliatory killings by villagers who suffer losses due to wildlife.
The incident also brings to light the importance of the pending notification to declare MMWS as a tiger reserve. A proposal to this effect was submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2019 and accepted in 2021, but the state government has yet to finalize the notification. Such a declaration could open up avenues for strengthening conservation efforts in this crucial tiger landscape by limiting commercial activities and improving overall protection.
In the wake of the incident, forest officials have taken tissue, blood, and stomach samples from the dead tigers for toxicology, histopathology, and DNA profiling tests. The area has been cordoned off as a crime scene, and authorities are tracking shepherds in the area, as parts of MMWS are often used as grazing grounds by locals. The three suspects have been taken to Meenyam-based 'Aranya Bhavan' for further interrogation.
