Meera Bhardwaj:
Another tiger has been killed in Karnataka after getting trapped in a snare near Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in Kodagu district. Between June-December, this year, 14 tigers including 11 cubs have either been snared, hacked or poisoned. If four tiger cubs were poisoned, seven tiger cubs have died in rescue & rehabilitation centres of Koorgalli and Bannerghatta due to viral infections, starvation and lack of immunity in the aftermath of separation from their mother.
In the last six months, Karnataka has witnessed poisoning of five tigers in MM Hills Sanctuary, and of course, incidents of rising conflict with tigers, their capture and settlement in rescue centres. Most tiger deaths have happened in the fringe area of Nagarhole and Bandipur Tiger Reserves and also in the MM Hills Sanctuary. This protected area also witnessed the killing of a tiger where its body was hacked into pieces.
14 TIGER DEATHS/KILLINGS IN KARNATAKA
Month No of deaths Area
Dec16 1 Snared Nagarhole TR
Dec1-9 4 Cubs Nagarhole TR
Oct 3 Cubs BRT TR
Oct 1 Hacked MM Hills Sanctuary
June 5 Poisoned MM Hills Sanctuary
On 16th, the forest staff found a dead tiger after it was trapped in a snare near a tree in the Kecchatira Coffee Estate on the roadside of Srimangala Bhagavathy Temple in Chettalli, Kushalnagar taluk, Kodagu district.
Activists from Kodagu said, “A few days back, coffee plantation workers had in fact, shared the information about the movement of a tiger in this area. Unfortunately, before any action could be taken, the tiger was found dead – caught in a deadly snare.”
In an emergency meeting held in Belagavi on Tuesday, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre directed that teams should be formed in all zones and regular searches for snare in the villages on the forest edge should be conducted.
The Forest Minister added, “I have instructed officials to clear the snares installed in the forest edge land and to create awareness among the people about the legal complications faced when wildlife dies.” There is need to create public awareness about the adverse impact of snares. Further, legal action should be taken against those responsible for the death of the tiger, he added.