Bengaluru, June 27 (UNI) Reacting to the death of a tigress and her four cubs at the revered Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district, State BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa today said, "If the cause of the tigers’ deaths is poisoning, it is utterly despicable and condemnable."
He urged the investigation team formed by the government to act without delay and bring the culprits to justice.
Vijayendra described the incident as "inhumane and distressing", particularly for devotees, as the tiger holds deep spiritual significance as the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Mahadeshwara. The location of the tragedy—at a shrine where the tiger is worshipped—has only intensified the collective grief and anger.
He underscored that this tragedy is not just a crime against wildlife but an attack on faith and ecological heritage. “This incident has shaken not only environmentalists but also the sentiments of lakhs of devotees,” he said.
Calling for systemic changes, Vijayendra emphasised, “The awareness that the existence of humankind lies in the conservation of wildlife must spread further.”
He said people living along forest fringes need to be involved in awareness programmes focused on the preservation of forests and wild species.
Reiterating that "every wild animal is a friend to human society and a national asset", Vijayendra called for the government to launch a broad-based public awareness campaign to build grassroots-level conservation consciousness.
He further stated that the tiger population stands as a proud symbol of Karnataka's rich forest ecosystem. “The conservation of tigers is the responsibility of us all,” he asserted, urging the state to use central government schemes to design and implement special priority programmes aimed at tiger conservation.
“The government must take special care toward the protection and safety of tigers,” he demanded, warning that such lapses cannot be repeated, especially in ecologically and spiritually sensitive regions like the Male Mahadeshwara forest.
Meanwhile, forest authorities have taken two individuals into custody and are questioning them as part of the ongoing probe. Further developments are awaited.
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