Mysterious Tiger Death in Karnataka: Residents Angry Over Investigation Tactics | Mysuru News
SHIVAMOGGA: A tiger’s death at Ambligola check dam, bordering Shikaripura and Sagar Taluks on February 17, angered the local residents as investigations took an unsettling direction.
Even as the National Tiger Conservation Authority took a serious note of the incident, the forest department intensified its probe, leading to intimidation of villagers, locals complained.
Residents of riverside settlements in the backwater region, particularly in Byrapura, Doddabyana, Hosur, and Annapura, claimed that they were questioned unnecessarily by the field staff. Over 20 Byrapura residents sought assistance from Sagar MLA Gopal Krishna Belur.
A villager seeking anonymity told TOI that he was detained by the field staff and questioned for an entire day. He claimed that officers conducted individual interrogations and threatened to revoke property rights. The villager denied witnessing the tiger or any wildlife poaching activities.
Forest authorities rejected these allegations.
The tiger, believed to be about 10 years old, was found dead in the water body. The tiger’s body was found floating in the backwater, even as villagers stated that they did not witness tiger movement in the area, deepening the mystery.
The National Tiger Authority’s involvement escalated matters. They’ve requested Karnataka’s chief wildlife warden to submit a comprehensive mortality report.
The required documentation includes carcass details, GPS coordinates, veterinary officer’s report, missing body parts inventory, post-mortem findings, detailed colour photographs, forensic laboratory identification, and additional relevant information.
Chirag from Rainland Trust stated that at the initial stage, the department neglected the forest crime and has now intensified the search after forest minister Eshwar B Khandre‘s intervention.
The minister sought a report within 10 days, he stated. The officials should collect farmers’ details who are hunting wild boars in the area, he said.
The forest minister has not received the report even though the deadline lapsed some 10 days ago, sources stated.
