Chamarajanagar: In a deeply concerning incident, five tigers, including a mother and her four cubs, have been found dead in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka.
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre confirmed the deaths and expressed shock over the tragedy.
“We are shocked and saddened by this incident. Five tigers, including a mother tiger and four cubs, have died at Male Mahadeshwara Hills. I have given orders for a high-level enquiry,” Khandre said in a statement today.
He added that a post-mortem will be conducted as per the established wildlife protocol to determine the exact cause of death.
Officials from the Forest Department have reached the site and are collecting evidence. Initial reports suggest no signs of foul play, but authorities are not ruling out any possibilities until the post-mortem and forensic analysis are complete.
The Male Mahadeshwara Hills, which lie in the Chamarajanagar district bordering Tamil Nadu, are home to a significant tiger population and form a crucial part of the larger Cauvery Wildlife Division.
Further updates are awaited.
