The shocking deaths of a tigress and her four cubs in Karnataka’s Male Mahadeshwara Hills have been traced to an act of revenge by a man whose cow was killed by wild animals, forest officials revealed on Saturday. Three men — including the cow’s owner — have been arrested after investigations confirmed the big cats were poisoned.
The incident, which took place in the Hugyam forest range, caused massive public outrage when the tigress and her cubs were discovered dead on Thursday. Officials said the breakthrough came when they found the poisoned carcass of a cow belonging to Maada alias Maaduraju, who was enraged after his cow, Kenchi, was killed by predators.
In retaliation, Maaduraju allegedly sprayed poison on the cow’s carcass. When the tigress returned with her cubs to feed on it, all five died after consuming the tainted meat. His friends, Konappa and Nagaraju, are accused of helping him execute the deadly plan.
Police have taken the three suspects to Aranya Bhavan in Hanuru Taluk for interrogation. Meanwhile, Maaduraju’s father initially confessed to the crime but was cleared after investigations pointed to his son’s involvement.
The killings have sparked a political storm, with the BJP blaming the Siddaramaiah government for negligence in protecting Karnataka’s wildlife. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre assured that strict action would follow, promising no one involved would escape accountability.
According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Karnataka is home to 563 tigers, the second highest population in India after Madhya Pradesh.
