Bengaluru: Tiger experts are worried over the delay in investigations into tiger deaths in the state, which has the highest concentration of big cats in the world. Nearly 20 per cent of country’s tiger population, or 350-400 tigers, exist in the state.
But over the last three years, 10 tigers have died under unnatural circumstances. But these cases have remained unsolved. Conservationists say that despite the influx of large amounts of money and man power, the Forest Department is unable to take the tiger death cases to logical conclusion.
Six of those tigers died in Nagarhole and Bandipur Reserves. The other four were in Bhadra and BRT Reserves. In Nagarhole, two tigers were poisoned, but the cases have not been solved. Also, another tiger had drowned in a water canal near Taraka backwaters outside Nagarhole, but foresters are yet to ascertain the cause of death.
“Nearly half-a-dozen agencies – Forest department, the CID Forest Cell, Police department, Forest Mobile Squad, BBMP Forest Cell and wildlife NGOs – are working to stop wildlife crimes in the state. Still, we have been unable to regulate the trade,” an expert said.
2 more reserves Karnataka which has the highest numbers of tigers in the country is expected to get two more tiger reserves. The Kudremukh National Park and area between BRT Tiger Reserve and M M Hills will soon get the tag.
