Two tigers, elephant found dead

A male tiger which had created panic among the locals, was found dead in Bandipur Tiger Reserve range in Gundlupet taluk while the carcasses of another tiger and an elephant were found in Kallahalla range, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve on Friday.

The Forest department has launched a search operation for the male tiger which had created panic in and around Hirekere village in Gundlupet taluk. Camp elephants were pressed into service to trace the wild cat. However, the animal was found dead around 500 meters away from Hirekere on Friday. It was cremated after a post-mortem.

A 10-year-old male tiger and an elephant were found in Kallahalla forest range under Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. According to the Forest department, the big cat, which was injured due to a fight with another animal, may have died of starvation.

The carcass of a 35-year-old male elephant was found in the Kollengere forest beat. Injuries were found on the back and the abdomen of the tusker. It is suspected that the tusker might have been injured in a fight with another animal.