2 tuskers poached near Bangalore
Jayashree Nandi, TNN 27 December 2009, 03:40am IST
BANGALORE: Two adult elephants were shot dead on Saturday in the Kaglipura range of Bannerghatta National Park, and the tusks of one removed to be smuggled.
A one-and-half year old tiger cub was also found dead on Saturday morning at the Moleyur (Bandipur) tiger reserve, most likely due to territorial conflict with another tiger.
Additional principal chief conservator of forests, B K Singh told STOI: “We have commenced investigations and are documenting all deaths. We will initiate action soon.”
The PCCF visited the Moleyur reserve to probe the tigress’ death. “It is not foul play. The tigress has wound marks on her face, between her hind limbs and on her back. It is a case of territorial fight,” he said. Local representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) also inspected the spot.
Singh will be visiting Bannerghatta National Park on Sunday to investigate the elephant deaths.
During one of his recent inspections in Kollegal, he found people drawing live wires from the main power line of about 440 volts, and fencing their land to avoid elephants from straying inside.
It’s a grim year-end for the state’s wildlife. In July, the state lost four tigers in two months — a huge loss when seen in the light of the declining national figures. However, three of the four recent cases of tiger deaths in Karnataka were due to fights amongst each other.
Again, a two-year old tigress was tranquillized and captured in one of the reserves and relocated to Bhadra tiger reserve on June 4, but it did not regain consciousness due to an overdose of the tranquillizer.
