Two Tiger Cubs Discovered Dead in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

Quick Summary

• Incident: Two tiger cubs, reportedly abandoned by their mother, were found dead in Karnataka’s Cauvery Wildlife sanctuary.
• Revelation: Forest guards located the carcasses on the Shagyam beat route near Holemuridahatti anti-poaching camp in Chamarajanagar district.
• Age and Cause of Death: The cubs, estimated to be around two weeks old, reportedly died of starvation as confirmed after a post-mortem conducted on Tuesday.
• Confirmation: T. Hiralal, Conservator of Forests for Chamarajanagar district, verified that abandonment by the mother is common for various reasons in the wild.
• Related Incidents: In June 2025, five tigers (a mother and her four cubs) died due to poisoning in M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary nearby.
• Statistical Context: Karnataka has lost 13 tigers so far this year (2025), including cubs, according to data from the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The discovery underscores urgent concerns regarding tiger conservation efforts in Karnataka and India more broadly. Starvation deaths highlight potential risks stemming from maternal abandonment or wider ecological stressors such as declining prey availability. Additionally, with recent poisoning deaths reported close by and a total loss of 13 tigers this year alone across Karnataka’s reserves-a state frequently enough praised for its robust wildlife protection programs-questions may arise about management efficacy.

While abandonment is a natural occurrence among predators like tigers under certain conditions, consecutive incidents could reflect broader conservation challenges requiring attention. Investigating contributing factors such as habitat disruption or human encroachment must remain central to mitigating such losses while safeguarding India’s role as home to Asia’s critically endangered tiger population.

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