Bengaluru, 7 Nov

A farmer was killed in a tiger attack in Mysuru district on Friday, prompting Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre to order the suspension of safari operations in Nagarahole and Bandipur Tiger Reserves. He also halted trekking activities in areas prone to human-wildlife conflict. This is the third such death in the region in the last one month.

He also directed that forest staff in safari operations be deployed to capture the big cat.

Chowdayya Nayak, 35, was killed around 9am at Hale Heggudilu village in Saragur taluk of Mysuru district, officials said. This was followed by a violent protest by angry villagers. Villagers lashed out at officials who rushed to the spot, condemning their failure to prevent human animal conflict and wild animals damaging their crops.

The tiger was hiding in a bush when it attacked Nayak, who was tilling the land with his oxen.

He is survived by his wife Rukmini and three daughters.

Sources said the government is likely to replace Bandipur Director Prabhakaran with IFS officer Santosh Kumar. Kumar had earlier served as BRT Tiger Reserve director and dealt with the poisoning of four tiger cubs and their mother at MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.

Khandre said the loss of three lives along the Bandipur-Nagarahole forest belt in Mysuru and Chamarajanagara districts in a month was “deeply distressing”.

All officials, vehicle drivers and staff currently assigned to safari duties are to be deployed for the tiger capture operation. The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and the Director of Project Tiger have also been instructed to camp on site to capture the tiger.

Following the incident, BJP State President BY Vijayendra slammed the government alleging that the ruling party in the state was mired in internal squabbles, completely sidelining farmers.

The other two recent victims of tiger attacks were Rajshekhar of Bannegere and Doddaningaiah of Kurnegala. One Maha Devegowda of Badagalapura of Saragur lost his eyes to a tiger attack last month in the same taluk.

Attacked by an elephant before

The deceased farmer, Chowdayya Nayak, had only recently survived an encounter with an elephant on his farmland. After spending three months recovering from a serious back injury, he had just begun to resume his daily routine. But the relief was short-lived. His death underscores the growing strain of human–wildlife conflict in the region.