Tiger carcasses lay just 100 metres from road, forest staff didn't find them for two days
The order by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests also sent three Forest Department officials on compulsory leave pending an investigation into the deaths at the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.
The officials are Deputy Conservator of Forests Y Chakrapani, Assistant Conservator of Forests Gajanana Heggade and Deputy Range Forest Officer Madesh.
The order pointed out that not only were the carcasses found a mere 100 meters from the road, an anti-poaching camp was also located 800 metres away from the spot.
'Prima facie it is found that the dereliction of duty by the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Range Forest Officer and Deputy Range Forest Officer is responsible (for the deaths)…,' said the order, warning of action against other staff involved in patrolling the sanctuary.
The tigress and her four cubs were poisoned last week by three residents of Koppa village near the sanctuary — Konappa, Madaraju and Nagaraj — following a tiger attack on cattle.
The accused had sprayed pesticide on a cattle carcass, creating a deadly trap for the felines.
The deaths marked India's largest single-day tiger mortality since the launch of Project Tiger in 1973, according to officials.
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