Panic has gripped parts of Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district after the startling sighting of five tigers near a human settlement. The big cats were captured on drone footage roaming around a stone quarry at Nanjadevapura, prompting immediate action from the state's forest authorities.
Minister Directs Immediate Action
In response to the alarming situation, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday directed officials to capture and relocate the felines at the earliest. An emergency meeting was convened to review the scenario, where the minister emphasized the urgency as the tigers were on private farmland and causing significant fear among local residents.
"Measures must be taken to prevent any loss of human life," Khandre stated, instructing the department to deploy all necessary resources. The strategies discussed included the safe capture and translocation of the animals to a more suitable habitat.
Elaborate Capture Operation Planned
The forest department is preparing a detailed operation to apprehend the tigers. Drones and thermal cameras will be used extensively to monitor the movement of the big cats round the clock. Villagers will be alerted immediately if the tigers are seen approaching human settlements.
Learning from a recent incident where forest personnel were attacked during a rescue, Minister Khandre specifically asked officials to ensure the safety of the team. The operation will involve extra veterinarians to dart the tigers, sharpshooters, and elephants. To ensure public safety, prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed in Nanjadevapura and two other adjoining villages, strictly preventing locals from gathering near the operation zone.
Rising Human-Tiger Conflict in the Region
This incident highlights the escalating human-tiger conflict in southern Karnataka, particularly in areas bordering the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves. The forest department has been forced into a series of capture operations following a spike in attacks.
In the last two months alone, three people have been killed in tiger attacks, leading to the capture of several felines from the landscape. The presence of five tigers together near a quarry underscores the increasing pressure on wildlife habitats and the consequent spillover into human-dominated areas.
The department's current priority is to successfully and safely conclude the capture operation in Chamarajanagar, mitigating immediate danger while addressing the broader challenges of coexistence in one of India's most critical tiger landscapes.
