CHAMARAJANAGAR, Karnataka — Authorities imposed prohibitory orders in three villages of Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district on Monday after five tigers were spotted together near Nanjedevpura village, triggering concern among local residents.
Tension prevailed across parts of Chamarajanagara taluk after forest officials confirmed the presence of the animals in the area. Residents have been instructed not to leave their homes unnecessarily or gather in groups as a precautionary measure.
Chamarajanagar tahsildar Girija imposed prohibitory orders in Nanjedevpura, Veeranapura and Udigala villages from Monday until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, citing potential risks to public safety. Villagers have been asked to cooperate with authorities to avoid any untoward incidents during the ongoing operation.
Forest Department personnel tracking the animals said the tigers are believed to be camping in a stone quarry area near the village. Officials said efforts to capture or tranquilize the animals are proving difficult due to limited resources, with only two veterinarians available across the district.
Drone surveillance conducted by forest teams detected pugmarks of a tigress and her cubs at the quarry site, confirming that all five tigers are together in the area.
Elephants Eshwara and Lakshmana from the Dubare elephant camp have been deployed, and combing operations are underway to locate and guide the animals back toward forested zones. Villagers in Nanjedevpura welcomed the elephant squad by performing special prayers.
Local Congress MLA Puttarangashetty has been camping at the site and is monitoring the situation closely. He conducted an inspection along with forest officials and reviewed the ongoing operations.
The state government has assured that additional trained elephants and experienced veterinarians will be sent to assist forest teams if required.
Forest officials said the situation is under constant monitoring and that further steps will be taken to ensure the safety of both residents and wildlife.
Chamarajanagar district and the buffer zones of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve have seen repeated human-wildlife conflict in recent months, including tiger sightings near villages, livestock attacks and past fatalities, prompting intensified surveillance and combing operations.
Since mid-October, authorities have rescued 23 tigers, including adults and cubs, from areas around the Bandipur and Nagarahole reserves. Several of these cases involved cubs straying near human settlements or being separated from their mothers and taken into custody for rehabilitation.
Earlier this year, the region drew national attention after a tigress and her four cubs were poisoned to death by villagers in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in June, highlighting the ongoing challenges of wildlife conservation and human safety in the area. (Source: IANS)
