Unnatural, unsolved tiger & jumbo deaths worry govt (Bengaluru)
Niranjan Kaggere, Times of India
July 30, 2024
Karnataka, which is credited with the best conservation efforts and a
salubrious wildlife population, is worried about the deaths of tigers and
elephants due to unnatural and unknown reasons in protected areas.
The state has lost 66 tigers and 372 elephants over the past five years
(2020-24). While some of these deaths were natural, a significant number
have either been unnatural or where the reason has been difficult to
ascertain.
Karnataka ranks second in tiger population, with 563 tigers spread over its
five tiger reserves and other areas.
Similarly, the state reported a whopping 372 elephant deaths over the past
five years. “As many as 305 (82%) elephants died naturally and 67 (18%) met
with unnatural deaths,” the officer explained.
In several cases of unnatural death and where the cause of death couldn’t
be ascertained, staffers were unable to locate the carcasses for weeks,
leading to difficulties in ascertaining the reason for death. Subhash
Malkhede, principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden
of Karnataka, attributed the delay largely to inhospitable terrain. “In
some cases, the animals would have become reclusive in the face of death
and withdrawn to remote areas. In monsoon months, it is very difficult even
to sense the smell of carcass.
Even if the staff sniff the bodies, they would be unable to reach the area
because of dense growth of lantana and other weeds. Nevertheless, field
staffers have been making the best of efforts to detect and document
deaths,” he said.
If snaring and poisoning are major reasons for unnatural deaths of tigers,
electrocution is the big threat for elephants. “Almost all unnatural deaths
of elephants were largely due to electrocution when they tried to sneak
into human habitations in search of food and water. We’ve been sensitizing
farmers and those inhabiting the peripheral areas about these deaths which
are avoidable,” another senior forest official said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/unnatural-deaths-of-tigers-and-elephants-in-karnataka-concern-government/articleshow/112119524.cms
Unnatural, unsolved tiger & jumbo deaths worry govt (Bengaluru)
Niranjan Kaggere, Times of India
July 30, 2024
Karnataka, which is credited with the best conservation efforts and a
salubrious wildlife population, is worried about the deaths of tigers and
elephants due to unnatural and unknown reasons in protected areas.
The state has lost 66 tigers and 372 elephants over the past five years
(2020-24). While some of these deaths were natural, a significant number
have either been unnatural or where the reason has been difficult to
ascertain.
Karnataka ranks second in tiger population, with 563 tigers spread over its
five tiger reserves and other areas.
Similarly, the state reported a whopping 372 elephant deaths over the past
five years. “As many as 305 (82%) elephants died naturally and 67 (18%) met
with unnatural deaths,” the officer explained.
In several cases of unnatural death and where the cause of death couldn’t
be ascertained, staffers were unable to locate the carcasses for weeks,
leading to difficulties in ascertaining the reason for death. Subhash
Malkhede, principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden
of Karnataka, attributed the delay largely to inhospitable terrain. “In
some cases, the animals would have become reclusive in the face of death
and withdrawn to remote areas. In monsoon months, it is very difficult even
to sense the smell of carcass.
Even if the staff sniff the bodies, they would be unable to reach the area
because of dense growth of lantana and other weeds. Nevertheless, field
staffers have been making the best of efforts to detect and document
deaths,” he said.
If snaring and poisoning are major reasons for unnatural deaths of tigers,
electrocution is the big threat for elephants. “Almost all unnatural deaths
of elephants were largely due to electrocution when they tried to sneak
into human habitations in search of food and water. We’ve been sensitizing
farmers and those inhabiting the peripheral areas about these deaths which
are avoidable,” another senior forest official said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/unnatural-deaths-of-tigers-and-elephants-in-karnataka-concern-government/articleshow/112119524.cms