Bengaluru: Three persons have been arrested for poisoning a tigress and her four cubs to death in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills forest region of Karnataka. Recovery of the carcases of the five big cats had created a sensation. This turned to outrage after it came to be known that they had been poisoned.
Karnataka forest minister Eshwar Khandre said that authorities are interrogating the accused and necessary legal action would be initiated against them.
The three, who were arrested on Saturday, have been identified as Konappa, Madaraju and Nagaraju. All are from the Koppa village on the periphery of the forest. They have been charged under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Karnataka Forest Act, 1969.
According to officials, the three have confessed that they poisoned the tigers in an act of revenge, for the death of a cow. Three others from the village are being questioned in this case.
The accused have claimed that the tigress killed a cow named ‘Kenchi’ that belonged to Madaraju. He shared his grief with Nagaraju, and the duo, with the help of others decided to take revenge by killing the tigress and her cubs. They procured pesticide, entered the forest, found the remains of the dead cow and laced it with the chemical.
The next day, the tigress and her four cubs consumed the poisoned meat and died. Madaraju is said to have expressed happiness over the death of the tigers and even celebrated it. He fled the area after there was public outcry over the deaths.
In a bid to save his son, Madaraju’s father Shivanna took the blame upon himself. He was taken into custody for the crime. It was only after Madaraju’s arrest that Shivanna was released.
The government has appointed Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) and Nodal Officer (All India Tiger Estimation) Kumar Pushkar as the head of the investigation team, replacing the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF).
The investigation team includes Chief Forest Conservator T. Hiralal, APCCF Srinivasulu, NTCA representative Malleshappa, veterinary officer of Mysuru Zoo Shashidhar, and wildlife expert and activist Sanjay Gubbi.
The unnatural deaths came to light on Thursday after the discovery of the carcases in the Meenyam forest area, within the Hoogyam range of the sanctuary.
It then came to be known that the tigress had killed the cow and dragged it into the forest. She and her four cubs partially consumed the meat. They returned to the kill later and died after consuming the meat that had been laced with the deadly poison.
