R S TEJUS:
Villagers lock Forest Staff in Cage amidst rising human–wildlife conflict. Tensions flared in the buffer zone of Bandipur Tiger Reserve when villagers of Odeyanpura resorted to an unprecedented act of protest against the Karnataka Forest Department.
After repeated incidents of cattle being killed by a tiger in the area, the villagers took matters into their own hands in the morning hours of September 9, forcing members of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) and other frontline forest staff into a cage.
The villagers were angry that the department had not been able to capture the tiger despite earlier attempts, and refused to release the Bandipur Tiger Reserve forest staff until the arrival of senior officers.
CONFLICT BREWING FOR DAYS
A week ago, the tiger had killed cattle, prompting the Karnataka Forest Department to place a cage at the site and initiate combing operations in the surrounding forest patches. Despite these efforts, another kill occurred on the night of September 8, further fuelling local resentment.
By morning, tempers had reached a breaking point, and a group of villagers dragged the Bandipur forest staff into the very cage meant to trap the tiger, and holding them inside the cage as a display of anger and defiance.
FOREST OFFICIALS RUSH TO SPOT
Upon receiving reports of the incident, both the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of the concerned sub-division and ACF Naveen of the Bandipur sub-division rushed to the spot. Their intervention finally led to the release of the staff, who had endured a humiliating ordeal at the hands of the community they serve.
Speaking to Green Minute News about the incident, ACF Naveen said that the department would not take the matter lightly. He confirmed that a case would be booked against those responsible for caging the forest staff. “At least four key individuals have been identified as the main culprits behind the act.”
The ACF assured that strict action would follow to ensure such attacks on forest staff do not go unpunished.
RISING HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT
Incidents like these are not new to the landscapes surrounding Bandipur, or even to other tiger reserves across the country, where human–wildlife conflict has become a recurring flashpoint. For villagers who depend on cattle for their livelihood, losses to tigers and leopards can be devastating, and frustration often spills over into confrontation with the authorities.
However, for the forest staff, the consequences are equally grave. Being locked up in a cage by villagers sends a harsh signal that their authority, uniform, and duty are not respected on the ground. Such humiliation not only demoralizes frontline forest staff but also undermines their confidence in performing sensitive tasks that already demand immense courage.
FOREST STAFF FACE HOSTILITY
The morale of forest staff is central to effective conservation. These men and women patrol vast and dangerous terrains, face wild animals, hunters, and difficult terrain, and work under intense social pressures with limited manpower and resources. When their dedication is met with hostility from local communities, it erodes the trust required for cooperation and weakens the very backbone of tiger reserve management.
The Odeyanpura episode is a stark reminder of the urgent need for scientific, humane, and community-sensitive approaches to human-wildlife conflict. While local frustration is understandable, taking the law into their own hands only worsens the rift between people and the Karnataka Forest Department.