Barely days after the shocking deaths of five tigers in the Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary rocked Karnataka’s forest department, another brutal incident of wildlife cruelty has now come to light near Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
On July 2 morning, locals travelling along the Kandagale–Kodasoge road in Gundlupete taluk of Chamarajanagar district were horrified to find sacks dumped by the roadside. When they opened them, they discovered the carcasses of over 20 monkeys, apparently poisoned and tied up inside the sacks. Shockingly, two monkeys were still alive inside the bags, struggling for life amid the heap of dead bodies.
Forest officials rushed to the spot after receiving information. The surviving monkeys were immediately shifted to a veterinary hospital for emergency treatment.
Mass poisoning suspected
Initial investigations by forest department personnel and the Bandipur Forest Canine Squad indicate that the monkeys might have been poisoned and killed deliberately before their bodies were stuffed into sacks and dumped in the buffer zone of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
This gruesome incident has triggered alarm bells among conservationists and villagers alike. The site lies within the buffer zone of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, which is home to a rich biodiversity, including several endangered species.
“Such large-scale killing of monkeys is unheard of in this region,” said a senior forest official at the scene. “This appears to be a clear case of intentional poisoning. We have collected samples and sent them for forensic examination. Those responsible will be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act.”
Pattern of wildlife crimes
This incident has come at a time when the forest department is already under fire for multiple tiger deaths inside the MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Within the last few weeks, five tigers were found dead under suspicious circumstances in that region. Wildlife activists have slammed the authorities for failing to check such repeated crimes against animals.
Monkeys often stray into farmlands in search of food, resulting in crop loss. However, poisoning them is a punishable offence under the Wildlife Protection Act. Forest officials suspect that someone may have used poisoned food to wipe out entire monkey troops that frequently raid crops in this belt.
Villagers in Kandagale and surrounding hamlets expressed shock and anger at this brutal killing. Many demanded stricter patrolling and stronger action against culprits who resort to such cruel methods to tackle human-animal conflict.
“This is simply inhuman. Yes, monkeys damage crops, but this kind of mass killing is unforgivable. The government must act sternly,” said a local farmer who was among the first to spot the sacks.
Wildlife activists have urged the forest department to install camera traps in sensitive locations, increase patrolling, and raise awareness among villagers to adopt non-lethal measures to manage the monkey menace.
Forest department responds
Responding to the incident, senior officials confirmed that a detailed investigation has been launched. The carcasses will be sent for postmortem to confirm the exact cause of death. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, and the department’s dog squad has been deployed to gather any clues that may lead to the culprits.
Meanwhile, the surviving monkeys are under treatment, and forest staff are hopeful they will recover.
The incident has once again highlighted the fragile relationship between humans and wildlife in regions surrounding protected forests. As villages expand closer to forest fringes, conflicts with animals—especially crop-raiding species like monkeys, elephants, and wild boars—have become increasingly frequent.
Wildlife experts say that while crop loss due to monkeys is a genuine concern for farmers, there are humane ways to tackle it. Many point out that translocation of monkey troops, installation of solar fences, or community awareness programs could help mitigate such conflicts.
“This kind of mass poisoning is not only illegal but ecologically disastrous. Monkeys play an important role in seed dispersal and forest ecology. Killing them in such large numbers could have unintended consequences,” warned a conservationist from Bandipur.
