June 27, 2025, Bengaluru, Karnataka: In a deeply distressing incident that has stunned conservationists and wildlife lovers across the country, a tigress and her four cubs were found dead in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (MM Hills) in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district. Initial findings by forest authorities suggest that the big cats were poisoned, in what is now being termed the worst single-day tiger fatality at a single location in recent history.
The five carcasses were discovered by patrolling forest staff on Thursday evening, sparking immediate outrage and concern. The Karnataka Forest Department confirmed the deaths and has launched a high-level investigation, ordered by Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.
Suspected Poisoning Linked to Cattle Kill
According to preliminary reports, the tigress had killed a domestic cow just days before her death. Officials now suspect that poison was laced into the carcass of that cow, possibly as an act of retaliation by locals impacted by frequent tiger incursions. The tigress and her cubs are believed to have consumed the tainted meat, leading to their tragic demise.
“The possibility of poisoning is strong, but we are awaiting the results of the post-mortem to confirm the cause of death,” said a senior forest official.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, and results are expected to be crucial in establishing whether the deaths were due to deliberate poisoning, negligence, or another factor.
Forest Minister Reacts: “We Are Shocked and Saddened”
Reacting to the news, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre expressed grief and ordered an urgent inquiry.
“Five tigers, including a mother and four cubs, have died at Male Mahadeshwara Hills. We are shocked and deeply saddened. A high-level probe has been ordered, and a report will be submitted within three days. If this is a case of negligence, poisoning, or any form of human interference, criminal action will be taken,” said Khandre.
Human-Wildlife Conflict Spirals in MM Hills
Sources from the Times of India report that the human-animal conflict in and around the MM Hills sanctuary has been intensifying. Villagers who lose cattle or fear attacks have, in several instances, resorted to illegal tactics like snaring and poisoning to retaliate against wild predators.
Wildlife experts have repeatedly raised concerns that such tactics not only endanger tiger populations but violate India’s Wildlife Protection Act, and call for strict monitoring and community awareness to prevent further tragedies.
MM Hills: A Sanctuary Without Tiger Reserve Status
Although Karnataka boasts the second-largest tiger population in India, with 563 tigers, the MM Hills sanctuary has been waiting for tiger reserve status for over 15 years. Environmentalists argue that this delay has left the area vulnerable to unchecked human activity, cattle grazing, and forest encroachment.
Tiger reserve status would bring increased protection, better resources, more trained staff, and stricter regulations against commercial or harmful activities. But without it, MM Hills remains an underprotected buffer zone.
Wildlife biologist Dr. Rohit Menon, who has studied the region’s predator patterns, said:
“This tragedy could have been avoided if MM Hills had the conservation focus of a tiger reserve. The delay in upgradation is costing lives—both animal and human.”
Conservationists Demand Action
The deaths have galvanized wildlife groups and conservationists, who are now demanding:
- Immediate upgradation of MM Hills to a tiger reserve
- Strict prosecution under wildlife crime laws
- Community sensitization to reduce retaliation killings
- Installation of camera traps and rapid response teams
- Compensation for villagers losing livestock to predators
Neha Kaul, an activist with the Wildlife Protection Federation, emphasized:
“This is not just the loss of a tigress and her cubs—it’s a failure of our entire system. We need to act before more lives are lost.”
What Happens Next?
The autopsy results, expected by the weekend, will determine the next steps in the case. If poisoning is confirmed, police are likely to invoke sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and potentially IPC criminal charges for intentional killing of endangered species.
Meanwhile, forest staff are on alert for any other signs of poisoned baits in the vicinity, and patrol intensity has been increased across vulnerable zones in MM Hills.
The tragic loss of five tigers in one day is more than a conservation setback—it’s a sobering reminder of the fragile balance between humans and wildlife. Karnataka, often hailed as a tiger stronghold, now stands at a crossroads. Will this be the wake-up call needed to fortify its forest policies and protect its predators? Or will bureaucratic delays and public apathy continue to cost the lives of India’s national animal?
