Big cat down: Tiger mowed down by overspeeding car in Mysuru

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: A tiger, which was spotted near TVS factory in Sindhuvalli-Byathalli after straying from Bandipur tiger reserve a few weeks back, died in an accident near Mandakalli on Mysuru-Ooty interstate highway in the wee hours of Monday.

The big cat was mowed down by a speeding car when it was crossing the highway.

According to a release, the tiger is believed to be two years old. It was identified by the forest department as one of the four young tigers which were sighted in the area along with their mother a few weeks ago.

The other tigers are yet to be spotted and rescued. Their mother is believed to have gone back to the wild.

In a release,deputy conservator of forests Mysuru circle M Basavaraju said that the department officers and veterinarians conducted the autopsy and cremated the carcass as per the standing operating procedure specified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Forest department officials have identified the car that mowed down the big cat and an investigation is underway.

According to Forest Officers, the tiger had encountered people five or six times but had not attempted to attack them.

The tiger had made sporadic appearances in Doddakanya, Chikkakanya and surrounding villages. The other two tigers have likely returned to Chikkanahalli Reserve Forest as their visuals have not been captured in the camera traps for days.

Forest guards had even launched a nightlong operation to capture the elusive tiger. but it used to disappear at lightning speed.