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

The mysterious deaths of five tigers in Karnataka’s Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary have taken a new turn as forest department officials detained four individuals for questioning. The carcasses belonging to a tigress and her four cubs were discovered earlier this week in the Koppal range sparking statewide concern and widespread media attention as well. 

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According to forest officials, the suspects are being questioned separately at different locations, including Gajanur, Koppal, and Meenyam villages. While the exact cause of death is still under investigation, initial suspicions point to possible poisoning. The area has now been placed under strict monitoring.

The post-mortem examinations of all five tigers have now been completed. The autopsy of the mother tigress was done on Thursday, followed by the cubs’ on Friday. These were conducted by veterinary doctors and wildlife experts, under the supervision of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF).

Forest officials have collected important internal organs from the tiger carcasses. The samples have been divided into three sets and sent to different laboratories for further testing and analysis.

At the same time, forest officials have taken four suspects into custody for questioning. Each person is being interrogated separately. Officers have also increased their presence in the nearby villages of Gajanur, Koppal and Meenyam to support the investigation.