One of four tiger cubs captured at Nanjedevanapura after CCTV sighting

Forest authorities have safely captured one of the four tiger cubs whose movement along with their mother was recently recorded on CCTV cameras at Nanjedevanapura village in Harave Hobli of Chamarajanagar district.

While the mother was captured on January 9, the female cub, aged about 10 months, was captured on the night of January 15 as part of an ongoing operation by the Forest Department within the jurisdiction of the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRT), Chamarajanagar.

The operation is being closely monitored by the director of the BRT Tiger Reserve. The cub has been safely housed, and her health condition is being closely monitored by veterinary officers, officials said.

According to forest authorities, efforts are under way to capture the three other cubs. The operation involved two veterinary officers, four trained elephants from the Dubare camp, departmental drone teams, and several forest officers and staff, said the Deputy Conservator of Forests and Director, BRT Tiger Reserve, in a press release.

As part of the operation, thermal cameras and drones are being deployed to track the movement of animals in the area.

The mother’s capture had provided temporary relief to residents of surrounding villages, as the sightings had created fear among villagers. CCTV footage showing the tigress and her cubs moving through agricultural fields at Nanjedevanapura had earlier circulated on social media.

Following this, Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre directed officials to intensify surveillance and ensure the safe capture and relocation of the animals.

The Minister instructed officials to ensure zero loss of human life while safeguarding wildlife and ordered round-the-clock monitoring using drones and thermal cameras. He also directed officials to alert villagers if the animals move close to human habitations.

Forest authorities had urged farmers and villagers not to venture out at night and to visit fields only if necessary, using adequate lighting such as torches. They have sought the cooperation of locals in the ongoing operation and appealed to them not to gather in large numbers but inform officials if they spot the cubs.