MADIKERI: The Kodagu forest department has captured a tiger suspected to have killed a young man and an elderly beekeeper within a span of 15 hours. The tiger was caught on Tuesday at around 2pm at Nanachi gate near Nagarahole forest range, with the help of five elephants led by Abhimanyu.
The operation involved 150 members of the forest staff, including Kodagu CCF BNN Murthy, Nagarahole director Harshakumar, and ACFO Gopal. The team was armed with 20 weapons and 12 vehicles for the operation. ACFO Gopal revealed that the tiger was injured after a fight with another tiger, which led it to enter an estate in search of easier prey. The tiger is said to belong to the Veeranahosalli range in Mysuru district.
The people of Churikad of K Badaga village panchayat, who were living in fear because of the tiger’s movements, were relieved after hearing the news of its capture. The tiger had claimed two lives during its attacks on Sunday and Monday in a coffee plantation near Churikad. The victims were 18-year-old Chethan, the only son of Madhu of Hanugodu village near Panchavalli, and 65-year-old Raju, a beekeeper of the same village and also related to Chethan. The victim’s families have been given an initial compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
On Monday, the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Rajiv Ranjan sent a permission letter to Kodagu CCF, stating that the tiger had become dangerous to human life and had created panic in K Badaga village of the Nagarahole range. Permission was granted under Section 11(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to capture the tiger by tranquilizing it on a priority basis. The letter also stated that if the tiger further attempted to injure or kill a human and could not be captured, it may be shot as a last resort.
Kodagu-based assistant conservator of forests tranquilised the tiger. “The female tiger aged between 11-12 will be sent to animal rescue enter in Mysuru,” said Murthy who tranquilised the big cat.
The operation involved 150 members of the forest staff, including Kodagu CCF BNN Murthy, Nagarahole director Harshakumar, and ACFO Gopal. The team was armed with 20 weapons and 12 vehicles for the operation. ACFO Gopal revealed that the tiger was injured after a fight with another tiger, which led it to enter an estate in search of easier prey. The tiger is said to belong to the Veeranahosalli range in Mysuru district.
The people of Churikad of K Badaga village panchayat, who were living in fear because of the tiger’s movements, were relieved after hearing the news of its capture. The tiger had claimed two lives during its attacks on Sunday and Monday in a coffee plantation near Churikad. The victims were 18-year-old Chethan, the only son of Madhu of Hanugodu village near Panchavalli, and 65-year-old Raju, a beekeeper of the same village and also related to Chethan. The victim’s families have been given an initial compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
On Monday, the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Rajiv Ranjan sent a permission letter to Kodagu CCF, stating that the tiger had become dangerous to human life and had created panic in K Badaga village of the Nagarahole range. Permission was granted under Section 11(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to capture the tiger by tranquilizing it on a priority basis. The letter also stated that if the tiger further attempted to injure or kill a human and could not be captured, it may be shot as a last resort.
Kodagu-based assistant conservator of forests tranquilised the tiger. “The female tiger aged between 11-12 will be sent to animal rescue enter in Mysuru,” said Murthy who tranquilised the big cat.