Mysuru tiger attacks: Big cat involved in three deaths captured in Sargur taluk

Forest authorities have captured a male tiger believed to have been attacking people and livestock in Sargur taluk of Mysuru district over the past month, triggering panic in villages along the forest fringes.

Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre confirmed that the tiger, suspected to be responsible for the deaths of three people in separate incidents in Hediyala, Moleyur and Nugu forest belts, has been successfully captured. The Forest Department had launched an intensive search with personnel drawn from Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves following a spate of human-wildlife conflict cases in the region.

However, the Minister has directed officials to conduct a DNA test to verify whether the captured tiger is indeed the one behind the recent fatal attacks. “The post-mortem reports of the victims and the DNA profile of the tiger must be cross-verified to confirm its involvement,” Mr. Khandre said.

Safaris suspended

Safari operations in Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves had been temporarily suspended in view of the rising human-wildlife conflict. Additional forest personnel, including those redeployed from the safari units, were engaged in the tiger capture operation. Officers from multiple forest ranges, supported by trained elephant teams, took part in the operations.

According to officials, the captured tiger is estimated to be around 12 to 13 years old. Its teeth are severely worn down, which may have made it difficult for the animal to hunt wild prey and forced it to stray into human habitations and attack people and cattle for easier food sources.

The Minister has also instructed senior officers of the Mysuru wildlife division and Project Tiger to camp in vulnerable villages and closely monitor tiger movements. He stressed the need to assess whether any other tigers in the region are involved in similar attacks and to continue operations accordingly.

Forest teams on standby

Additional precautionary measures have been put in place in villages reporting frequent tiger sightings. Search and rescue teams remain on continuous standby. A special night-patrol team — consisting of a Deputy Range Forest Officer, a forest guard and two watchers with a Rapid Response Team (RRT) vehicle — is patrolling vulnerable zones and issuing safety alerts through public address systems whenever tiger movement is detected.

Also, public awareness notices have been distributed in villages, schools, markets and bus stops, advising residents to remain alert and avoid moving alone, especially during early mornings and late evenings. Leaflets explaining do’s and don’ts to prevent tiger encounters are also being circulated.

Though the capture has brought some relief, villagers remain cautious and have requested that forest teams maintain combing operations in the region to ensure that no other tiger is responsible for the recent attacks.