A Brutal Blow to Conservation
In a grim reminder of the challenges facing wildlife conservation, the death of an adult tigress and her four cubs — allegedly poisoned — at the Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) Wildlife Sanctuary has left conservationists and the public outraged. The deaths not only represent a significant ecological loss but also signal the failure of the state’s wildlife protection infrastructure.
Following preliminary investigations, three suspects were arrested, and some forest officials were placed on leave — symbolic gestures to show administrative seriousness. However, the issue goes far deeper than immediate accountability.
Two independent inquiries have been launched — one by the Karnataka Forest Department and another by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). These committees have been granted 14 days to submit their findings. But experts insist the probe must look beyond individual lapses and instead address the structural failings that made such a tragedy possible.
Behind the Numbers: A System in Disarray
Karnataka is home to over 560 tigers and around 6,400 elephants, making it one of the most wildlife-rich states in India. However, behind this success lies a paradox of inadequate enforcement and policy contradictions.
Among the most pressing issues:
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Poor conviction rates for wildlife crimes have weakened deterrence. Despite frequent poaching incidents, few cases have led to punishment. A tiger poisoned in Bandipur in 2023 remains a cold case, with no legal resolution even after two years.
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Human-animal conflict is intensifying, with over 35,580 reported cases in 2024-25. Compensation was sanctioned in only 20,147 cases, while more than 14,000 remain pending. Such delays erode public support for wildlife conservation and encourage retaliatory killings.
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Electrocution and snare deaths continue unabated. Between 2021-2024, 30 elephants were electrocuted while six were poached — a stark statistic that reflects enforcement failure.
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Manpower shortages and delayed payment of salaries to frontline forest staff have further compromised patrolling and protection duties.
The tragedy at MM Hills is not an isolated incident. Similar dangers persist in Bandipur, Nagarahole, and other protected zones, where animals are caught in traps or poisoned — often without any consequence to the perpetrators.
Development vs. Conservation: The Policy Conundrum
The deaths of the tigress and her cubs also shed light on Karnataka’s inconsistent environmental policies, which undermine its conservation image:
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The Goa-Tamnar power line project, rejected by the Forest Department in 2024 due to its route through Kali Tiger Reserve, was later cleared — showcasing the political override of ecological assessments.
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The Sharavathi storage project, mini hydel projects, and other linear infrastructure in eco-sensitive zones fragment tiger corridors, push animals toward human settlements, and escalate conflict scenarios.
These decisions send conflicting messages: while the state celebrates its wildlife populations, its actions often betray economic priorities over ecological integrity. Such policy mismatches create conditions ripe for tragedies like the one at MM Hills.
The Road Ahead: Will the System Change?
As the committees investigate the MM Hills incident, the public awaits more than blame games. There is a pressing need to reform wildlife law enforcement, ensure timely compensation for conflict victims, strengthen community-based conservation, and review project clearances in critical habitats.
More importantly, Karnataka must ensure that conservation is not reduced to numbers in tiger or elephant censuses but is reflected in genuine protection on the ground.
