Mysuru forest officials say recent tiger attacks in Sargur were accidental, not man-eating

Mysuru: Among three incidents of Tiger attacks on three humans in Sargur taluk of Mysuru district, none of the humans have been dragged and eaten by Tigers. So none of these attacks were intentional and none of these Tigers were man eaters, said Conservator of forest, Mysuru circle, S S Ravishankar. 

"All three attacks have been mere accidental out of threat, due to close sudden encounters/interface between humans and Tigers. These Tigers had might have either come out of forest in search of partners for mating or for rearing cubs since it is the season for mating and breeding during October and November or due to many other factors" Ravishankar said. 

He explained that, in Moleyur range of Hediyala Wildlife Division of Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) at Koodagi village of Sargur taluk, a tiger killed farmer Doddaningaiah (53) on October 31. Here the farmer had gone 150 meter inside forest area by crossing Elephant proof trench. 

In Bennegere of Mullur Grama Panchayat, Sargur taluk of Mysuru district, on the fringes of Nugu forest of the BTR, a tiger killed Rajashekar (65) on October 26. Here the farmer had been to cut sticks to support tomato crop in the bush near the stream. Here in this bush, Tigress was nourishing her three (one and half month old) cubs. So out of threat for cubs, the Tigress had attacked the farmer. 

In Badagalapura of Saragur taluk, at the fringes of Nugu Wildlife Range of Bandipur, Tiger attacked and injured farmer Madegowda, 43, on October 16. Here the farmer was attacked when he was watching the combing operation by forest department personnel. 

"Usually, due to physiological and hormonal changes during mating season, the Tigers which will be moving in forest fringes in search of mates, will be aggressive. If the farmers encounter them, they tend to attack" Ravishankar said. 

A wild life veterinarian explained that, during the breeding season Tigers come out to nourish their young ones in Agricultural lands of bushes on forest fringes, protecting them from predators like wild dogs, pythons. When farmers go near their cubs, out of threat, they tend to attack, he said.  

"There are several other factors why Tigers come out of Forest. Tigers may also come out of forest areas due to territorial battle. When the adult tigers who are injured or lost canines and cannot hunt, tend to come out to have easy prey like cattle and if farmers try to chase them, they tend to attack them," Ravishankar said. 

"The adult Tiger also come out of the forest when the young tigers nourished at forest fringes try to establish their territory inside forest. Young Tigers who are unable to establish territory also come out due to ecological saturation. If farmers disturb, they tend to attack out of threat" said Director of Project Tiger, P Ramesh Kumar. 

Farmers have also claimed that besides DJ music and other disturbance of natural habitats by resorts in eco sensitive zones or encroached notified forest area around BTR, they even dispose of waste of non veg including bones unscientifically, which attract dogs and in turn animals. 

A forest official said, since Bandipur Tiger Reserve has reached their ecological carrying capacity of Tigers, they should be relocated to dense forests like M M Hill or Bhadra or Kali Tiger reserves, to prevent further man-animal conflicts.