2 camera traps installed for tiger census stolen in Karnataka's Belthangady

Mangaluru: Two camera traps installed for tiger census work have been stolen by unidentified persons from a reserved forest area in Belthangady taluk.

According to the complaint filed by Ravindra K (46), Deputy RFO and Enumerator of the Wildlife Division, Belthangthy, the incident came to light during routine inspection.

The camera traps had been installed on May 1, in the Naravi Reserve Forest area near Pela in Savanal village, under Savanal patrol limits, as part of a tiger population survey.

However, when the forest officials, along with staff, visited the site to inspect the equipment, they found that two camera traps had been stolen by unidentified persons.

The estimated value of the stolen equipment is around Rs 48,000, the complainant said.

A case has been registered at Belthangady Police Station under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation is underway.