In a distressing development, five tigers — a mother and her four cubs — were discovered dead inside the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district.
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, responding to the incident, expressed deep sorrow and has called for an urgent investigation.
“This is a tragic loss. The death of a mother tiger along with her four cubs is extremely concerning. I have directed officials to initiate a high-level inquiry,” he said in an official statement on Friday.
He further assured that a detailed post-mortem will be conducted following established wildlife protocols to ascertain the precise cause of death.
Forest Department personnel have arrived at the site and are currently examining the scene. Preliminary assessments indicate no clear evidence of foul play; however, officials are awaiting post-mortem and forensic results before drawing any conclusions.
The Male Mahadeshwara Hills region, situated near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, is part of the Cauvery Wildlife Division and is known for its thriving tiger population.
Authorities have confirmed that further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
