Tiger kills woman in H D Kote taluk; officials set camera traps

The forest department personnel found her body near watch tower of forest department on Sunday morning.

A 48-year-old tribal woman was killed in a tiger attack while she was herding goats on the fringes of Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) in H D Kote taluk, Mysuru district, on Saturday, prompting forest officials to set camera traps to capture the movements of the big cat. 

The incident took place in Hediyala sub-division, N Begur range. The deceased has been identified as Chikki, a resident of Maalada Haadi of N Begur gram panchayat limits in H D Kote taluk. 

Conservator of Forests (Project Tiger) P Ramesh Kumar told DH that from April 2023 to March 2024, three persons had died in tiger attacks in Bandipur Tiger Reserve limits. This is the first death in BTR limits in April. 

As the tiger had dragged her body inside the forest, forest department personnel found her body amid bushes around 500 metres from the forest border on Sunday morning.

The incident came to light when a shepherd informed villagers about the attack on Saturday. On coming to know of the attack, the forest department launched a search for the woman. But the operation was suspended after it turned dark and was resumed on Sunday at 6 am.

Assistant Conservator of Forests G Ravindra said 40 trap cameras have been installed to observe the movements of the tiger, though no decision has been taken on capturing the tiger.

BTR Director and Deputy Conservator of Forests S Prabhakaran has appealed to the people of Maalada Haadi not to enter the forest area and assured to take measures to prevent a repeat of such incidents. A cheque of Rs 3 lakh was handed over to the family.

Chikki (48)

Other recent incidents

A 49-yr-old woman was killed in Hediyala range of Bandipur forest in Nanjangud taluk in November 2023.

A 72-yr-old man near Hediyala range of Nanjangud taluk killed in October 2023.

A 50-yr-old man was killed on December 11, 2023 in Kundukere range of Gudlupet sub-division of BTR.