A 10-year-old male tiger was found dead in the backwaters of the Ambligola reservoir in Sagar, Shivamogga district, specifically in the Bellanduru Narabhakshaka range. Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre has ordered a thorough investigation into the tiger’s suspicious death.
The tiger’s post-mortem examination revealed that it had been shot with a bullet, which pierced through its throat. The autopsy also found pellet wounds on the tiger’s body. However, there were no injuries to suggest that the tiger had been involved in a territorial fight.
Locals have expressed suspicion that the tiger was killed elsewhere and its body was dumped in the reservoir. This theory gains credence as there have been no tiger sightings in the area for over 50 years.
Some environmentalists argued that the tiger was likely killed in the Bhadra Tiger Reserve, where it may have posed a threat to the mushrooming home stays and resorts in the area. They claim that the tiger’s presence may have been seen as a hindrance to the growing tourism industry, leading to its brutal killing.
The Bellanduru Narabhakshaka range has a notorious history, being the place where Kenneth Anderson, a British big game hunter, killed a man-eating tiger during colonial times. The area was infamous for tiger attacks on villagers, leading to Anderson’s intervention.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines mandate the presence of two NGO representatives during the post-mortem examination. However, the forest department allegedly avoided inviting representatives from reputed NGOs, who might have asked probing questions.
The forest department’s actions have raised suspicions, with many questioning why a snake catcher was invited to the post-mortem examination instead of a wildlife expert. The department’s decision to cremate the tiger’s body without allowing media personnel to take photographs has also been criticized.
Minister Khandre has directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Chief Wildlife Warden to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report within 10 days. The investigation will also probe whether the tiger was killed elsewhere and its body was dumped in the reservoir.
The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of tigers in the state, with many demanding a high-level investigation to uncover the truth behind the tiger’s death.
