In a significant development highlighting the escalating human-animal conflict in Karnataka, forest officials successfully rescued a 10-year-old tigress from Gowdanakatte village in Hunsur taluk on Friday. The big cat has been safely relocated to the Chamundi Wildlife Rescue, Conservation and Rehabilitation Centre at Koorgalli in Mysuru district.
Rescue Operations Reach Breaking Point
This recent rescue marks the 18th tiger captured in just two months, revealing the alarming frequency of human-animal encounters in the region. According to officials, another five to six big cats are still being actively tracked along the fringes of protected areas around Mysuru, indicating the situation remains critical.
The relentless rescue operations, initiated following complaints from elected representatives and local organizations in conflict-prone regions, have pushed the infrastructure of both the forest department and the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) to their limits. Both facilities are now operating beyond their permissible capacity, creating an urgent need for additional space to house rescued animals.
Wildlife Centers Operating Beyond Capacity
The Koorgalli centre, originally designed to accommodate approximately 20 carnivores including tigers and leopards across its 130-acre expanse, currently shelters 14 tigers—eight females and six males—along with nearly 10 rescued leopards. Compounding the space crunch, the facility also provides veterinary care for two to three elephants.
Dr Sunil Panwar, IFS, member secretary of ZAK, openly acknowledged the mounting pressure on existing facilities. "Considering the spurt in human-animal conflict incidents in the recent past and possible rescue operations in the coming months, all these facilities will be filled up in no time," Dr Panwar stated.
The Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) on Bengaluru's outskirts, another key rescue facility, is also approaching saturation, compelling ZAK to consider alternative sites to ensure regional balance in wildlife conservation efforts.
Long-term Solutions in the Pipeline
In response to the growing crisis, authorities have begun planning additional rescue centers across Karnataka. "We have been making plans to set up similar rescue centres in other parts of the state," confirmed Dr Panwar. Civil works for a new center at Belagavi Zoo are already underway, while a similar facility at Ballari Zoo is in the planning stages, awaiting government approval for fast-tracking.
Officials clarified that not all rescued tigers will remain permanently at these centers. "The rehab stay is only a stop-gap arrangement to resolve the conflict situation," explained Dr Panwar. Animals that recover fully will be released back into the wild after obtaining permission from the chief wildlife warden, making space for new rescues. Only elderly animals, those unable to feed themselves in the wild, or cubs unaccustomed to surviving independently will be retained permanently.
Conservationists Voice Concerns
The frequent rescue operations have raised alarms among conservationists and former forest officials, who warn that repeated captures could establish an unhealthy precedent and undermine long-term conservation goals.
A retired chief wildlife warden cautioned, "These rescue operations should not become the regular trend as this will strain the department's resources and affect actual conservation works elsewhere." The expert emphasized the need for scientific solutions including inter-linking of protected areas by reclaiming encroached corridors and clearing choking weeds from core habitat areas to provide additional space for the growing tiger population.
As human-animal conflicts continue to rise in Mysuru district and surrounding regions, the balancing act between immediate rescue needs and long-term conservation strategies remains a significant challenge for Karnataka's wildlife authorities.
