Six Held for the Deaths of 8-Year-Old Tiger, 4 Cubs

Six people were detained on Friday in connection with the death of an eight-year-old tigress and her four cubs, aged between 8 and 10 months, in the Hugyam forest range of Male Mahadeshwara Hills.

- Covercooly Indresh

BENGALURU: The five carcasses were discovered on Thursday during a routine beat patrol in Hanur taluk of Chamarajnagar district.

The six detainees were picked up after a joint investigation conducted by the forest department and the police.

The prime accused, identified as 55-year-old Shivanna of Kallebboddi village in Chamarajanagara district, was allegedly enraged when one of his cows was killed by a tiger, said forest officials aware of the matter. In retaliation, he and his son allegedly laced another cow carcass with poison, which was then consumed by the tigress and her cubs, they added.

Forest officials also confirmed that Shivanna's son was still absconding. The remaining five detainees, all from the same village, are being held and interrogated at the forest department's rest house in Gajanur village.