Chamarajanagar (Karnataka) – In a major wildlife tragedy, a tigress and her four cubs were found dead in Karnataka’s Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, marking the state’s worst single-day tiger death toll. The grim discovery in the Hoogyam forest range has sent shockwaves through conservation circles, with preliminary findings pointing to poisoning as the cause.
A cow carcass laced with toxins, found near the bodies, is believed to have been used as bait, possibly in retaliation after the tigress killed a cow days earlier. The tigress, aged 8–11 years, and her cubs—three females and one male, aged 2–3 years—were discovered lifeless, dealing a severe blow to Karnataka’s tiger population, which stands at 563, the second-highest in India. Forest officials have detained five individuals for questioning, and a joint operation with the police is underway to identify the cow’s owner.
Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered a high-level probe led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, with a report expected within three days. A five-member expert team, including a National Tiger Conservation Authority representative, conducted a necropsy, and samples have been sent for forensic analysis to confirm poisoning. Conservationists are outraged, citing unchecked human-wildlife conflict, inadequate compensation for cattle losses, and lax monitoring as key factors.
The forest department has cordoned off the area, initiating a 500-meter sweep for evidence. If poisoning or negligence is confirmed, criminal cases under the Wildlife Protection Act will follow. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to protect India’s tigers and mitigate human-animal conflicts.
