CHAMARAJANAGAR: The border district of Chamarajanagar is already well-known as the ‘land of tigers’. Tigers are now leaving the forest and entering villages, causing anxiety has gripped farmers and villagers. Locals are even scared to go to their farmlands and allege that if a tiger kills them, the Forest Department will be responsible.
The district is known for having the highest number of tigers in the state. Tigers are now entering villages, leading to a man-annimal conflict. On Tuesday evening, a tiger appeared in the farmland of one Basavaraju a.k.a. Mahesh in Padaguru village of Gundlupet taluk.
The farmer was alarmed upon seeing the tiger. “I was shocked for a moment when I saw the tiger. If I had even thrown a stone at the tiger, it would have attacked me and finished me off”, he described seeing the tiger. The tiger comes to the farmland every two days, drinks water, and leaves. Yet no work is being done to capture the tiger. He expressed outrage saying, “If we lose our lives, the Forest Department will be responsible”.
Other villagers too are bringing the tiger’s movement in Padaguru village to the attention of forest officials. Forest Department staff come, burst crackers, and leave, but do not capture the tiger, they say. “They give the usual reply that they have set up camera traps and cages. When informed about the presence of a tiger, the Forest Department staff reportedly reply that they will send staff tomorrow”, they said.
The villagers have warned that if they end up killing the tiger, or if the tiger kills them, the Forest Department will be responsible. About two to three months ago in Padaguru village, a tiger had died from an electric shock. Villagers hope it would be better to capture the tiger before such an incident recurs.
