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Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Indian Express
Tigress, 4 cubs poisoned with carbofuran pesticide in Karnataka: Probe
Traces of toxic pesticide were found in the samples of a tigress and her four cubs, Chief Conservator of Forests T Heeralal has said. The samples and viscera from the deceased tigers were analysed at the Forensic Science Laboratory and Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals Laboratory to determine the exact cause of death, Heeralal said Monday. The state government on Monday also suspended Y Chakrapani, Deputy Conservator of Forests, MM Hills wildlife division. Earlier, the Karnataka government had suspended Assistant Conservator of Forests Gajanana Hegde of M M Hills Wildlife Division, and Range Forest Officer-cum-Surveyor Madesh. The government order said the salaries for outsourced employees were not disbursed for March, April and May, 2025, leading to a protest by watchers in front of the DCF office on 23 June. The order said that the officers have failed to perform their basic duty of ensuring timely payment of wages to watchers, even though the funds were made available at the end of April, 2025. According to the investigation, the tigress had hunted a cow and dragged it into the forest. Miscreants deliberately sprayed carbofuran, an odorless and highly toxic pesticide, on the carcass and after the tiger family consumed it, they succumbed to the lethal substance, Heeralal said. Three persons identified as Konappa, Madaraju, and Nagaraj, all residents of Koppa village within the MM Hills sanctuary, were arrested on June 29 and charged under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the Karnataka Forest Act 1963. The breakthrough came after Shivanna, the father of the Madaraju, during questioning revealed the involvement of three persons, including his son. Madaraju initially fled after his father's arrest but was later arrested through Shivanna's cooperation. According to a police officer, the tigress and her cubs were killed in retaliation following tiger attacks on cattle. The accused deliberately sprayed pesticide on a cattle carcass, said the officer. The Karnataka forest department had formed a high-level inquiry committee led by B P Ravi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and gave it 14 days to submit a comprehensive report. The Union Environment Ministry had also formed an SIT to probe into the incident.
Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Indian Express
Karnataka: Three held for poisoning carcass that killed tigress, four cubs
Three men have been arrested in connection with the recent deaths of a tigress and her four cubs at Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary — India's largest single-day tiger mortality since Project Tiger's launch. The accused — Konappa, Madaraju, and Nagaraj — are residents of Koppa village within the sanctuary. They have been charged under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the Karnataka Forest Act 1963. A local court sent the accused to judicial custody for three days. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre confirmed the arrests on Saturday, stating that all three suspects were directly involved in poisoning cattle carcass that was subsequently consumed by a tigress and her four cubs. The breakthrough came after Shivanna, the father of the accused Madaraju, was detained on Friday and confessed to knowledge of the crime. Senior sanctuary officials revealed that preliminary questioning of Shivanna unravelled the crime committed by the accused, including his son. 'Based on his confessions, we have arrested three people… Shivanna and some others were aware of the conspiracy,' said a forest official. Madaraju initially fled after his father's arrest but was apprehended later. According to a police officer, the tigress and her cubs were killed following tiger attacks on cattle. The accused deliberately sprayed pesticide on a cattle carcass, creating a deadly trap for the tigress and her cubs. Karnataka Forest Department has formed a high-level inquiry committee headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests B P Ravi and given 14 days to submit a comprehensive report. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.
Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Indian Express
Karnataka tiger deaths: 3 arrested for poisoning cattle carcass at MM Hills sanctuary
Three people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of five tigers at the Male Mahadeshwara Hills wildlife sanctuary, said Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre Saturday. The accused—Konappa, Madaraju, and Nagaraj—are residents of Koppa village, situated within the MM Hills sanctuary. They have been charged under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963. A local court has sent the accused into judicial custody for three days. Khandre said all three were directly involved in poisoning a cattle carcass that was subsequently consumed by a tigress and her four cubs, leading to India's largest single-day tiger mortality since the launch of Project Tiger, a conservative effort that began in 1973. The breakthrough came after Shivanna, the father of the accused Madaraju, was detained on Friday and confessed to knowledge of the crime. Senior sanctuary officials revealed that preliminary questioning of Shivanna exposed the involvement of three conspirators, including his son. 'Based on his confessions, we have arrested all three people. While three people were part of the crime, Shivanna and others were aware of the conspiracy,' said a forest official. Madaraju initially fled after his father's arrest but was later apprehended through Shivanna's cooperation. According to a police officer, the tigress and her cubs were killed in retaliation following tiger attacks on village cattle. The accused deliberately sprayed pesticide on a cattle carcass, creating a deadly trap for the big cats, said the officer. The poisoned meat proved fatal to the entire tiger family, a mother and her four cubs, who consumed it near the village. Meanwhile, the Karnataka forest department has formed a high-level inquiry committee headed by B.P. Ravi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and given it 14 days to submit a comprehensive report. The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident. On Saturday, Khandre met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and briefed him about the tiger deaths.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Time of India
Karnataka tiger deaths: 3 arrested for poisoning at MM Hills sanctuary; wildlife officials call it worst single-day tiger mortality in India
BENGALURU: Probing the shocking incident involving the death of five tigers at the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, the Karnataka Forest Department officials on Saturday arrested three persons who allegedly poisoned the cattle carcass that was consumed by the tigress and her cubs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The accused have been identified as Konappa, Madaraju, and Nagaraj, residents of Koppa village located within the MM Hills sanctuary. An official statement by forest minister Eshwar Khandre on Saturday said, 'All the arrested have been booked under various provisions of both the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Karnataka Forest 1963, and a wildlife offence report (WLOR) No 02/2025-26 has been registered in Hoogyam Range of the MM Hills Sanctuary.' The accused Madaraju is the son of Shivanna, whom the department officials arrested on Friday after he confessed to the crime. The minister revealed to TOI on Friday about the detention of Shivanna and four others from villages within the MM Hills range. Senior officials from the MM Hills Sanctuary revealed that the preliminary inquiry of Shivanna showed the involvement of three people, including his son Madaraju. 'Based on his confessions, we have arrested all three people. While three people were part of the crime, Shivanna and others were aware of the conspiracy and crime. After Shivanna was picked up on Friday, his son Madaraju escaped. However, we reached out to him through Shivanna and formally arrested him,' the official explained. Retaliating for the killing of their cattle, the accused plotted a plan to kill the tiger and sprayed pesticide on the carcass of the cattle. After consuming the poisoned carcass, the tigress and her four cubs died near the village. The incident sent shock waves across the country for being the largest single-day tiger mortality in India since the launch of the Project Tiger programme.
