Karnataka: Poisoned cow carcass behind death of 5 tigers in MM hills; accused in custody

In a shocking incident at the Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) Wildlife Sanctuary, five tigers died after feeding on a poisoned cow carcass. Forest department investigations revealed the poisoning was a retaliatory act by a villager whose cow had been killed by a tiger.

Also read: Tiger death case: Four suspects detained, poisoning angle not ruled out

The incident traces back to Kallabbedoddi village, where Shivanna, a local resident, reportedly allowed his cattle to graze deep within the protected forest area. When a tiger killed one of his cows, Shivanna allegedly laced the carcass with poison to exact revenge.

Unaware of the danger, five tigers fed on the poisoned meat and succumbed. The discovery of their carcasses triggered a swift probe by forest officials. Though an official statement is yet to be released, preliminary findings have pointed clearly to intentional poisoning.

Forest officers have detained Shivanna, while his son—believed to be involved—has absconded. Authorities have also taken five more suspects from the same village into custody for questioning. The group is currently being held at the Forest Department’s rest house in Gajanur for further investigation.

The deaths have raised serious concerns over human-wildlife conflict and enforcement of grazing restrictions in protected areas. Forest officials are expected to provide a comprehensive update in the coming days.