Caged as bait, crying for days: Tiger hunt leaves cow, villagers distressed

Madikeri: A tiger that has been prowling Hulithal village near Kaggodlu in Madikeri taluk has killed eight cattle since Nov last year, leaving villagers distressed and anxious. In an effort to capture the big cat, the forest department placed a live cow inside a cage as bait. However, despite being confined for nearly 15 days, the tiger has not approached the trap.While officials say the cow is being fed, residents allege that it remains largely unattended and visibly distressed. Shanthakumari, a resident who lost her cattle to the tiger attacks, said the cries of the caged cow were heartbreaking. She added that she has not yet received compensation for the cattle she lost.Fearing further attacks, Shanthakumari said she was forced to give away two calves free of cost to prevent them from being killed. "The fear is constant. We cannot protect our cattle, and there is no relief," she said.The forest department has stepped up efforts after a fresh tiger movement was reported in nearby Ibnivalawadi. Officials have installed around 23 camera traps, positioned the cage behind Shanthakumari's cowshed, and intensified combing operations in the surrounding forest. Despite these measures, the tiger remains elusive.Responding to concerns over compensation, deputy conservator of forests (Madikeri) Abhishek said several applications related to tiger attacks were pending, and that compensation was being processed in the order in which applications were received. He assured that Shanthakumari would also be compensated.Meanwhile, the prolonged confinement of a live cow as bait has triggered ethical concerns. Critics argue that while capturing the tiger is necessary, keeping an animal caged for days causes severe distress and raises questions about humane practices in wildlife management.