On 11th September 2019, through camera traps, the images of a tiger were captured near the area where cattle were killed; in the Gundlupet buffer range of Bandipur tiger reserve. It was reported that there was a person killed; in close proximity, also suspected to be from a tiger, in the first week of September. There were also many other cattle killed. Another report on the 8th of October, stated that there was another villager killed, by a tiger, near Hundipura village bordering Bandipur tiger reserve.
The Karnataka Forest Department staff installed camera traps, at and around the conflict locations, during this period to identify the conflict tiger. There were 4 young and healthy tigers identified, by the images obtained. Subsequently, after getting the images of a male tiger from camera traps around the same location almost every day, following the death of a person at Hundipura village; the tiger was located with the assistance of drones and tamed elephants. It was tranquilized on 13th October and shifted to the Chamundi Rescue and Rehabilitation center in Koorgalli, Mysore.
The tiger was first photographed along with the mother in the Antharasanthe range, Nagarhole tiger reserve on 28th March 2018. Based on history, body size and the physical appearance, the age of the tiger can be estimated as 3 to 4 years. The aerial distance between Bandipur and Nagarhole is about 60 Km. The tiger has moved from its initial territory, from Nagarhole to Bandipur, where the incidents happened. The young tiger was likely trying to establish its new territory.
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