5 tigers die in Karnataka's wildlife sanctuary, poisoning suspected

MYSURU/BENGALURU: A tigress and her four cubs were found dead on Thursday in Hoogyam forest range of Karnataka's Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary , in what officials called the state's worst single-day tiger death toll at a single location. Preliminary suspicion: poisoning.

Forest officials said that the tigress had killed a cow days earlier. Poison is believed to have been laced into the carcass - bait that may have killed the tigress and her cubs after they fed on it. An autopsy is scheduled Friday to confirm the cause.

State forest minister Eshwar Khandre called the deaths "unnatural" and ordered a probe. A report is to be submitted within three days. According to sources, human-wildlife conflict in and around MM Hills has driven some villagers to retaliatory tactics, including poisoning and snaring.

"If negligence by forest staff is found or if the deaths were caused by electrocution, poisoning or any other reason, criminal cases would be filed," Khandre said.

With 563 tigers, Karnataka has the country's second-largest population of the striped predator after Madhya Pradesh. Conservationists have repeatedly warned that tiger habitats across the state are under pressure. The 906sqkm MM Hills sanctuary has long awaited tiger reserve status - a proposal that has been languishing for nearly 15 years.

While tiger reserve status doesn't guarantee full protection, experts said that it could limit commercial activities and improve conservation efforts.