Forest minister orders audit of tiger deaths in Karnataka over past 5 years

Bengaluru: Following the poisoning of five tigers at MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary , forest minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday ordered an audit of tiger mortality in various tiger reserves (national parks) and wildlife sanctuaries of Karnataka. Delving into the activities of the wildlife wing, shortly after sending errant forest officials of MM Hills sanctuary on compulsory leave, the minister sought within 10 days a complete review of tiger deaths over the past five and a half years.

As per the All-India Tiger Estimation report of 2022, Karnataka stood second in the country in tiger population, with 563 tigers in five reserves. However, subsequent surveys of big cats reduced these numbers to 408 in 2023 and 393 in 2024. Further, reports based on the tiger mortality details available with the National Tiger Conservation Authority revealed the death of 82 tigers in Karnataka over the past 5.5 years.

Shocked by the alarming number of tiger deaths in the state, long known for its conservation practices, Khandre has directed both the additional chief secretary of forests, environment and ecology department and the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) to review the 82 deaths. In his letter to the bureaucrats, he wrote: "Enumerate how many of these 82 tigers died natural deaths and how many met with unnatural deaths and the reasons for the unnatural deaths."

Amid doubts over the possible involvement of poachers, the minister also asked the officials to furnish details of tiger mutilation after death to extract body parts.

Noting lapses on the part of foresters, as acknowledged in the MM Hills case, the minister also questioned whether the department has initiated action against any official held guilty in any tiger mortality case, besides demanding details of the conviction rate in unnatural death cases.

Nod for Palar checkpost

After drawing criticism for ignoring the pleas of Chamarajanagar police to set up separate checkposts along the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border at Palar, the forest department has finally given approval to construct a checkpost. TOI had reported on the department's silence over the checkpost plea of the Chamarajanagar SP.

The outgoing chief wildlife warden, Subhash Malkhede, on Monday approved the request to sanction 15x15 land within MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary at the intersection of Palar and Gopinatham near Palar bridge.