Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 19: Karnataka’s forest, ecology, and environment minister, Eshwar B Khandre, has initiated an investigation into the suspicious death of a male tiger in Shivamogga district.

The minister has instructed the principal conservator of forests and wildlife officials to submit a detailed report within ten days. Initial findings indicate that the tiger had a bullet wound on its body, raising concerns of poaching or illegal wildlife activities.

Authorities suspect the tiger was killed elsewhere, and its carcass was later dumped in the backwaters of the Ambaligola reservoir at Byrapura village in the Sagar Forest Division. The lifeless body, believed to be that of an 8- to 9-year-old male tiger, was discovered floating in the water on Monday evening.

This is not the first instance of a tiger’s untimely demise in Karnataka. On February 10, another tiger was found dead in Ramadevara Halla near Belur, Hassan district. Experts suggested starvation as the likely cause, estimating the animal had perished three to four days earlier.
Further, on April 23, 2024, a tiger was discovered dead in a lake in Ganagoor forest near Gonikoppa, Kodagu district. Authorities believe it succumbed to injuries sustained in a territorial fight.

In another distressing incident, a young male tiger, around 1.5 years old, was fatally struck by a speeding vehicle near Mysuru airport on January 28, 2024. The impact caused severe head injuries, leading to the tiger’s death. The vehicle responsible was later seized by authorities.

Wildlife conservationists have expressed growing concerns over increasing tiger deaths in Karnataka. They point to habitat destruction, unplanned infrastructure development, and road expansion as major threats pushing wildlife into human-dominated areas, often leading to fatal encounters.

As investigations continue, conservationists urge immediate steps to strengthen wildlife protection measures and prevent further loss of Karnataka’s majestic big cats.