Combing operations on to trap two ‘killer’ tigers in Mysuru’s Saragur taluk

Combing operations are on at two places in Saragur taluk of Mysuru district where two farmers were killed in separate incidents of tiger attacks in the last few days.

While a farmer identified as Doddaningaiah from Kudagi village was killed by a tiger in Kurnigala village close to the Muliyuru range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) on Friday, another farmer named Rajashekar was killed on October 26 in Bennegere village close to Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary bordering Bandipur.

There was also a third incident a few days earlier in which a farmer sustained serious injuries in Badagalpura, also close to Nugu and is battling for life in a hospital.

The combing operations near the Muliyuru range commenced on Saturday and the Forest Department staff, including members of the Special Tiger Force have fanned out in the area looking for telltale evidence for the presence of tigers. Prabhakaran, Deputy Conservator of Forests and Director of BTR, said that camera traps have been laid at vantage points, which were being monitored for the presence of tigers in the vicinity. Besides, two elephants from the Forest Department camps have also been deployed.

Mr. Prabhakaran stated that another team of staff were combing the area near Bennegere where farmer Rajashekar lost his life to a tiger attack on October 26. He added that 50 camera traps have been set up at both the places.

In the meantime, the government has deputed more than 50 additional staff to Bandipur and they will be deployed at places known to be hotspots for human-wildlife conflict.

The additional staff will be on deputation initially for a period of 15 days — from November 1 to 15 — and will supplement the strength of the existing field staff.

The focus will be around Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary, Hediyala, Moliyuru, and surrounding places of the area which have been reporting a spate of tiger attacks since the last few days.

The authorities have said that this is only an ad-hoc measure and if need be, the deputation period of the additional staff will be extended.

In a related development, Minister in charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa and other senior officials visited Koodagi village on Saturday and offered last respects to the deceased farmer Doddaningaiah.

A group of farmers representing Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and other associations also visited the village and expressed concern that an increase in human-wildlife conflict has created an atmosphere of fear among farmers in villages bordering the forests.