SC appointed committee flags delayed wages, staff shortage in its probe into MM Hills tiger killing

In the case concerning the poisoning of five tigers in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) Wildlife Division in Karnataka, the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has revealed that forest watchers deployed in anti-poaching camps were not paid their salaries.

The report has also recommended that the state government should declare the wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve to step up conservation efforts. These forest watchers are outsourced from a private company. The contractor who was supposed to disburse salaries failed to do so. “Investigations revealed that the contractor, bound by agreement to pay wages irrespective of government fund release, failed to pay salaries for March–May 2025, citing financial burden. Though budget allocations were sanctioned and released in May-June 2025, delays in disbursement and procedural issues contributed to the crisis. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that many watchers had taken high-interest loans to support their families but continued to patrol diligently,” the report said.

Preliminary investigations indicated a case of deliberate poisoning, where pesticide was sprayed on a cattle carcass that was subsequently consumed by the tigers. The incident that happened in June sent shock waves in the Union Environment Ministry. Investigations revealed that tigers were poisioned by villagers as the tigers had killed their livestock. Three accused were arrested.

“Despite 36 Anti-Poaching Camps (APCs) patrolling is constrained by severe staff shortages, 51% vacancy in beat foresters and 80% in forest watchers. While patrolling is ongoing, resource and manpower gaps significantly limit surveillance effectiveness, underscoring the urgent need for staff augmentation and infrastructure support to enhance protection,” the report said.

The CEC has also recommended that MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary be declared a tiger reserve. Despite National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approval in 2018 the Karnataka government has been dragging its feet from upgrading the sanctuary as a tiger reserve.

“We have sent multiple proposals to the state government but they have not declared it as a tiger reserve. Man-animal conflicts are rising. The sanctuary also houses a temple. Once the sanctuary becomes a tiger reserve there will be restrictions to congregate at the temple. There will be voluntary relocations of villagers from the tiger reserve so that conflicts will be reduced,” a senior forest official told The Tribune requesting anonymity.