A tiger was found shot dead in Bandipur National Park raising the spectre of poachers on the prowl, in what is rated as high density and among the best protected, tiger reserve in the country.
The incident was reported from Gopanahalla in Maddur range on Sunday.
The tiger was an adult male aged around 10 to 11 and well-built, and the incident is suspected to have taken place on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
Veterinarian D.N. Nagaraj told The Hindu that the animal’s internal organs were intact but the bullet had broken the vertebral column.
Shot near trench
Examining the spot, honorary wildlife warden Naveen Kumar said the tiger was on the trench when it was shot at by the poachers. It fell into the trench and dragged itself for a distance before collapsing in a puddle of water.
“There is evidence that the poachers had made a small hideout near the trench, and may have been waiting for a deer or other herbivore, some of which are hunted illegally for meat,” said Mr. Kumar.
Role of locals suspected
Senior officials, who visited the spot, suspect the handiwork of locals, who illegally hunt deer and wild boar for meat, and may have shot the tiger when it emerged suddenly from the trench. “The claws and skin are intact, which reinforces our suspicion of the involvement of locals rather than an organised gang of poachers,” said the official on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, samples of the viscera, including fragments of the broken bones, portion of the skin with the entry and exit wounds, were sent to the forensic laboratory.
The case will be investigated by Gundlupet police, which has registered a forest offence complaint. The carcass was burnt after post-mortem.
11 tiger deaths this year
Karnataka — which is home to nearly 400 tigers which is among the highest in the country — has reported 11 tiger deaths this year so far, of which four were due to infighting, one of natural causes, and details are awaited with regard to four other deaths.
A case of poaching was reported from Chikkamagaluru territorial division. This incident comes close on the heels of the death of two tiger cubs in Nagarahole and the fate of a third cub has not been ascertained. Bandipur and Nagarahole account for nearly 180 to 200 tigers as per estimates.
Sixty-nine tigers died due to various causes in 2015, whereas 66 deaths across the country were reported till August 10, as per Tigernet, the official database of National Tiger Conservation Authority.
