Another tigress found dead in Bandipur reserve in Karnataka; Officials cite ‘natural causes’

Forest rangers discovered a tigress, estimated to be five years old, dead in Gundre forest due to natural causes linked to starvation from injury.

Updated on: Jun 28, 2025, 15:47:18 IST

By Yamini C S, Bengaluru

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Days after a tigress and her four cubs were poisoned to death near Bengaluru, another sobering discovery was made deep in the Gundre forest range this week, where forest rangers came across the lifeless body of a tigress during a routine patrol. The tigress, estimated to be around five years old, was found on Thursday evening, prompting an immediate investigation by forest authorities, news agency PTI reported.

The big cat’s death was attributed to natural causes, primarily starvation following an injury sustained during territorial infighting. (PTI/Representational image)

ALSO READ | Two arrested for 'poisoning' tigress, 4 cubs in Karnataka

By Friday, a post-mortem examination provided some clarity. According to Bandipur’s Conservator of Forests, Prabhakaran, the big cat’s death was attributed to natural causes, primarily starvation following an injury sustained during territorial infighting. The tigress was unable to hunt due to injuries from a clash with another tiger, he explained. There was no trace of food in her digestive system, he said.

Tigress, four cubs, found dead in Hugyam forest range

While this death appears to be a tragic result of nature’s harsh order, a separate and far more disturbing incident recently came to light just days earlier. In the Male Mahadeshwara Hills, under the Hugyam forest range, another tigress and her four cubs were found dead on June 26.

ALSO READ | Six people detained for the deaths of 8-year-old tigress, her 4 cubs

Investigators believe the MM Hills deaths were no accident. Early findings point toward a deliberate poisoning, allegedly carried out by a local villager seeking revenge for a cow lost to predators. Forest officials confirmed on Saturday that three individuals, including the cow’s owner, have been arrested in connection with the suspected poisoning.

ALSO READ | Karnataka forest minister orders probe into 'unnatural death' of tigress, four cubs

Officials are now working to address the growing conflicts between man and wildlife and enhance both conservation and community safety.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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