MADIKERI : Close on the heels of the death of a tiger due to an overdose of tranquiliser at Gandethur in HD Kote range, a male tiger which has been killing cattle in the forest fringe villages was caught by forest officials in Bekke Sodlur near Ponnampet on Wednesday.
The tiger, about four years old, was caught in an operation under the supervision of CCF Manoj Kumar, who told Express that its leg was caught in a trap fixed by villagers to catch wild boars near Lakshmana Tirtha river. Unable to wriggle out from the trap, the tiger kept roaring. Soon after hearing the news, forest officials rushed to the spot, tranqulised it and shifted it to Mysore Zoo.
It is believed that the tiger was from Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary located nearby. According to reports, tigers and leopards have eaten 12 cows for the last four months in the region. Speaking to Express on Wednesday, Harish Madappa, a villager from Srimangala, said for the past six months, leopard and tiger menace has increased and villagers have lost cattle worth thousands of rupees. He said villagers are in distress owing to shortage of rainfall while wild animals keep killing their cattle.
Another villager Rakesh Devaiah from Bekke Sodlur said cattle are a major source of income for poor villagers who earn money by selling milk. Just a fortnight ago, cattle worth over D15,000 were eaten by a tiger, he said. He said forest officials sanction a very small amount as compensation, that too after running from pillar to post.
When asked about the captured tiger, Manoj Kumar said it is difficult to say if that was the one which kept killing the cattle. He said tigers and leopards come out of forest area in search of food.