Tigress Poisoning in MM Hills: Three Forest Officials Sent on Compulsory Leave, Probe Underway

News Flash

30 July

Nine-Year-Old Tigress and Four Cubs Poisoned in Chamarajanagar; Forest Minister Promises Strict Action if Negligence Proven

Bengaluru: In the wake of the shocking poisoning of a tigress and her four cubs in Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) has issued an order placing three forest officials on compulsory leave for three months.

The action follows the discovery of five tiger carcasses on June 27, and the subsequent post-mortem confirmed poisoning as the cause of death.

Officials Sent on Leave Pending Investigation

Those sent on mandatory leave include:

• Y Chakrapani, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF)

• Gajanna Hegde, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Hanur Wildlife Division

• Madesh, Range Forest Officer (RFO)-cum-Surveyor, Wildlife Range Zone

“Strict disciplinary action will be taken if any negligence is found,”
said Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre on Monday, adding that the government is awaiting internal inquiry reports.

In their place, Santhosh Kumar G, DCF at Bangalore headquarters, has been given additional charge of Chakrapani’s post. Meanwhile, Stupil Manohar Ahire and Umapati K have been appointed as the new ACF and RFO respectively.

Central Guidelines Prevent Suspension Beyond 3 Months

According to Forest Department sources, under Central Government norms, officers under investigation cannot be suspended or kept on leave beyond three months, prompting the current administrative decision to limit their leave period accordingly.

Poisoning Confirmed; Three Arrested

The deaths came to light after a forest patrol team spotted the carcasses of a nine-year-old tigress and her four cubs on June 27. A veterinary team conducted post-mortems, confirming that poisoning led to the deaths.

Following the investigation, three suspects were arrested on July 28 in connection with the wildlife crime. The motive behind the poisoning is still being probed, though forest officials suspect retaliatory killing by locals could be a possibility.

Conservationists Demand Accountability

Wildlife conservationists and NGOs have condemned the incident, calling it a serious failure of forest monitoring and surveillance, especially in protected tiger corridors like MM Hills.

The Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, part of a key corridor connecting Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve and Satyamangalam Forest, is home to several endangered species, making this incident particularly alarming for conservation efforts.