Tigress, 4 cubs poisoned with carbofuran pesticide in Karnataka: Probe
The samples and viscera from the deceased tigers were analysed at the Forensic Science Laboratory and Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals Laboratory to determine the exact cause of death, Heeralal said Monday. The state government on Monday also suspended Y Chakrapani, Deputy Conservator of Forests, MM Hills wildlife division.
Earlier, the Karnataka government had suspended Assistant Conservator of Forests Gajanana Hegde of M M Hills Wildlife Division, and Range Forest Officer-cum-Surveyor Madesh.
The government order said the salaries for outsourced employees were not disbursed for March, April and May, 2025, leading to a protest by watchers in front of the DCF office on 23 June. The order said that the officers have failed to perform their basic duty of ensuring timely payment of wages to watchers, even though the funds were made available at the end of April, 2025.
According to the investigation, the tigress had hunted a cow and dragged it into the forest. Miscreants deliberately sprayed carbofuran, an odorless and highly toxic pesticide, on the carcass and after the tiger family consumed it, they succumbed to the lethal substance, Heeralal said.
Three persons identified as Konappa, Madaraju, and Nagaraj, all residents of Koppa village within the MM Hills sanctuary, were arrested on June 29 and charged under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the Karnataka Forest Act 1963.
The breakthrough came after Shivanna, the father of the Madaraju, during questioning revealed the involvement of three persons, including his son.
Madaraju initially fled after his father's arrest but was later arrested through Shivanna's cooperation. According to a police officer, the tigress and her cubs were killed in retaliation following tiger attacks on cattle. The accused deliberately sprayed pesticide on a cattle carcass, said the officer.
The Karnataka forest department had formed a high-level inquiry committee led by B P Ravi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and gave it 14 days to submit a comprehensive report. The Union Environment Ministry had also formed an SIT to probe into the incident.
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