A five-year-old tiger suspected of attacking and killing a 65-year-old man at Sanegala village in the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar district was captured by the Forest Department in Tavarekatte Moole early on Saturday.
The Deputy Conservator of Forests and Director of BRT Tiger Reserve, Chamarajanagar, said in a statement that the tiger was captured using a tranquiliser dart at around 6.15 a.m. on Saturday.
On the orders of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Bengaluru, the captured tiger was shifted to the Rehabilitation Centre at Koorgalli in Mysuru for further care and safety.
Basavanna, 65, a resident of Badagalapura village in Chamarajanagar taluk, was killed in a wildlife attack while working in his field at Sanegala village on September 14.
Following the incident, the Forest Department launched an operation on September 15 to track and capture the animal. The operation was conducted under the guidance of Chief Conservator of Forests, Chamarajanagar Circle, Malathi Priya, and Deputy Conservator of Forests and Director of BRT Tiger Reserve, Sripathi B.S.
Cameras and cages were installed at and around the site of the incident and in the adjoining forest areas. The operation involved two dog squads of the BRT Tiger Reserve—Bhoomi and Bhanu—two trained elephants, Kanjan and Eshwara, two thermal drones, a departmental veterinary officer, skilled tribal trackers and 65 Forest Department officers and personnel.
After sustained efforts, the tiger suspected of attacking Basavanna was captured at around 6.15 a.m. on Saturday using a tranquiliser dart.
Meanwhile, Chamarajanagar district in-charge Minister C. Puttarangashetty had handed over a compensation cheque of ₹5 lakh from the BRT Tiger Fund to the family when he visited the deceased man’s house on September 15.
