Chamarajanagar: Forest officials rescued a five-year-old tiger from Tavarekatte Moole in Chamarajanagar district on Saturday, 12 days after farmer Basavanna was killed in a suspected tiger attack in nearby Badagalapura village.

The tiger was tranquilised at around 6 am and captured as part of an operation launched after the September 14 death. Forest officials suspect that the rescued animal could be the same tiger that attacked and killed Basavanna while he was working in his field.

Following directions from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Bengaluru, the captured tiger has been shifted to the rehabilitation centre at Koorgalli in Mysuru for further care, safety and monitoring.

Tiger captured after 12-day search

The operation to trace the animal began on September 15, a day after Basavanna was killed. The farmer was working in Badagalapura village, located along the fringes of the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, when the wild animal attack occurred.

Forest authorities subsequently deployed surveillance and capture equipment around the location of the attack and nearby forest areas.

Cameras and cages were installed to track the tiger’s movement and identify the animal believed to be involved in the incident.

The operation continued for nearly 12 days before forest officials succeeded in capturing the tiger at Tavarekatte Moole early on Saturday.

Forest team uses elephants and thermal drones

A large team was involved in the capture operation.

The operation was led by BRT Tiger Reserve Director and Deputy Conservator of Forests Shripathi B. Two trained elephants, Kanjan and Eshwara, were deployed along with two thermal drones to assist the search.

A veterinary officer and experienced tribal trackers were also part of the operation. Around 65 Forest Department personnel were deployed in the effort to locate and capture the animal.

The use of thermal drones and trained elephants was aimed at helping officials track the tiger through the forest and surrounding areas while reducing risks during the capture operation.

Tiger shifted to Koorgalli rehabilitation centre

After being tranquilised, the tiger was safely captured and subsequently shifted to the rehabilitation centre at Koorgalli in Mysuru.

The decision to move the animal to the rehabilitation facility was taken following directions from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Bengaluru.

The tiger is estimated to be around five years old. Forest officials will monitor the animal at the rehabilitation centre following its capture.

The authorities’ suspicion that the captured tiger was involved in Basavanna’s death is based on the circumstances surrounding the attack and the animal’s movement in the area. However, the available report does not state that the identification has been conclusively established.

Human-wildlife conflict remains a concern

The incident comes amid continuing concerns over tiger movement in villages located close to the BRT Tiger Reserve.

Earlier this month, BRT authorities had raised concerns about increasing wildlife movement towards villages along the reserve boundary. Forest officials had reported sightings of a tigress with two cubs and a male tiger outside the reserve, while livestock kills and big-cat movement had also been reported in fringe areas.

Officials had also pointed to fallow agricultural land and abandoned stone quarries as potential areas providing cover and water for wildlife. Such areas have been identified in several villages around the reserve.

The movement of tigers beyond protected forest areas can increase the possibility of encounters with people working in agricultural fields and other activities near the forest boundary.

Forest department continues monitoring

The capture operation following Basavanna’s death involved sustained monitoring of the area through cameras, cages and field teams.

The latest rescue brings the immediate search operation to an end, but forest officials will continue monitoring the situation around the villages bordering the BRT Tiger Reserve.

The rescued tiger’s movement and condition will be assessed at the Koorgalli rehabilitation centre. Further action will depend on the findings of the Forest Department and directions from wildlife authorities.

Conclusion

A five-year-old tiger was rescued from Tavarekatte Moole in Chamarajanagar 12 days after farmer Basavanna was killed in a suspected tiger attack at Badagalapura. Forest officials believe the captured animal could be responsible for the attack, though the available report describes this as a suspicion.

The tiger was tranquilised and shifted to the Koorgalli rehabilitation centre in Mysuru. The operation involved 65 Forest Department personnel, two trained elephants, thermal drones, a veterinary officer and tribal trackers.