The death of a woman in a tiger attack has left residents of villages around Pandaravalli in Chikkamagaluru taluk in shock and fear. Plantation workers in particular are worried as the tiger is yet to be captured.
Sumitra (36) was attacked by the tiger on Saturday, while she was on her way to the plantation where she worked. In recent months, several people have noticed tigers at different places in the taluk. A few have photographed and videographed the movement of the tigers.
A few days ago, a group of youths captured the movement of a tiger that they encountered while entering a coffee plantation. Tigers have been spotted in Mullayyanagiri, Seethalayyanagiri, Attigundi and neighbouring areas, which are close to Bhadra Tiger Reserve, in the last few months.
Environmentalists argue that tigers are entering human habitats as their prey has come down in forest areas owing to poaching. G. Veeresh, an environmentalist, said the government had failed to curb commercial activities in areas bordering forests. “Many resorts are coming up as ‘homestays’. The investors take permission for homestays and build resorts attracting tourists from distant places. The government should take measures against such activities,” he said.
There has been no example of a tiger attacking human beings in this region in the recent past. This is the first such incident. With the increase in human activities, human-animal conflicts had increased, Mr. Veeresh added.
S. Venkatesh, director of Bhadra Tiger Reserve, told The Hindu on Sunday that officers were in the process of capturing the tiger. “We have placed a cage near Pandaravalli where the woman was attacked. So far we have not caught the animal. Our officers and staff are at the spot,” he said.
M.S. Manik, Deputy Conservator of Forests of Chikkamagaluru division, is camping at the spot with his staff.
