Ravishankar, a freelance photographer, suffered grievous injuries when a tiger attacked him at Pinjahalli haadi in Antharasanthe forest range in the taluk on Thursday.
The forest department launched a mission to capture the wild cat which had created panic among villagers of Machanayakanahalli near Antharasanthe, Ankanatheshwara and Pinjahalli haadi, and during the process, Ravishankar, who was trying to click pictures of the operation, was attacked by the feline, which clawed his right shoulder. After providing first aid treatment at the primary health centre, Ravishankar was admitted to the District Hospital.
The tiger had strayed into these villages and killed two cattle at Machanayakanahalli and at Taraka canal on Wednesday. Cattle owner Rangaiah, who tried to save his cattle, was also attacked by the tiger.
He is admitted to the K R Hospital.
Forest department officials along with the personnel of Special Task Force of Project Tiger came to the spot on Thursday to tranquilise the tiger, which was suspected to be around 10 years old. But, as the villagers gathered in huge numbers to watch the operation, the tiger slipped away.
Jumbo help
As the crowd swelled, the tiger hid in some bushes above the dried Taraka canal. After the forest officials found it difficult to tranquilise the tiger there, they sought the assistance of “Howdah” elephant Arjuna from the Balle elephant camp.
At one point, Arjuna, carrying forest and the special task force personnel including veterinarian Dr Uma Shankar and his assistant Karumbaiah, ran helter skelter when the tiger roared loudly, sending shivers down the spine in those gathered around.
Mahout Thimma, however, controlled Arjuna and Karumbaiah shot the dart at the tiger and tranquilised the animal. After over 10 hours of operation, the forest personnel captured the big cat and transported it to the Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysore, in a lorry.
Range Forest Officer A T Poovaiah, Assistant Conservator of Forests Ningaraju and Circle Inspector of Police Govindaraju led the operation.