NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the recent deaths of five tigers in Karnataka’s Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) Wildlife Sanctuary and directed both the state government and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to take immediate action. The court also urged the Centre to formulate a comprehensive policy, in consultation with states, to mitigate human-wildlife conflict — a recurring cause of such preventable tragedies.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud (note: article mentions B.R. Gavai, verify the correct name) took note of a report submitted by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which highlighted that a tigress and her four cubs died after consuming a poisoned cattle carcass — an act allegedly carried out by local villagers in retaliation for livestock losses caused by wild animals.
Senior advocate and amicus curiae P. Parameshwaran told the court that cattle from nearby villages often stray into the sanctuary, attracting predatory attacks by tigers. However, patrolling and monitoring in the area have been inadequate due to systemic issues. He pointed out that most forest personnel are hired on contract through private contractors who fail to equip them with basic weapons or scientific tools, undermining their ability to patrol and protect the sanctuary effectively.
The bench asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to ensure that the environment ministry takes the lead in coordinating with states to resolve staffing and operational challenges. Bhati assured the court that the ministry would act promptly.
In its report, the CEC emphasized the urgent need for stronger preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future. “This tragic episode highlights the need for enhanced patrolling, effective surveillance through camera traps, rapid response systems for carcass monitoring, community-based conflict mitigation, and strict enforcement against wildlife poisoning,” the committee stated.
The report also underscored the ecological significance of the Western Ghats, noting it as one of India’s most critical tiger landscapes from the standpoint of habitat conservation, population viability, and long-term management.
