MM Hills Sanctuary Accounts for Nearly Half of Poaching Cases in Chamarajanagar

MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary has accounted for nearly half of all poaching and illegal arms cases registered over the last 16 years across the Chamarajanagar circle, according to official Forest Department data, prompting officials to advocate for community outreach alongside enforcement.

Between 2010-11 and 2026-27 (up to August 19), the Chamarajanagar circle, which comprises three forest divisions, detected 777 wildlife offence cases, 370 poaching cases, and 66 cases involving firearms. The MM Hills division consistently topped the circle's statistics, registering 166 poaching cases, or 45% of the total. In comparison, the BRT Tiger Reserve recorded 107 poaching cases, while the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary registered 97.

MM Hills also recorded 32 firearm cases, representing 48.44% of the 66 gun-related offences in the circle, with the remaining cases shared equally between the other two divisions. Proposed as Karnataka's sixth tiger reserve more than five years ago, the sanctuary remains a focal point for wildlife crime in the region.

Across the wider circle, 96 wildlife offence cases were registered in 2024-25, making up 25% of the 388 cases recorded across Karnataka. While total cases in the circle fell to 84 in 2025-26, the area saw major incidents, including the killing of five tigers in a single case and the deaths of three tiger cubs in another.

An official who served in the region noted that curbing wildlife offences requires addressing the socio-economic realities of border communities. Habitats along the Tamil Nadu border face significant deficits in healthcare, education, and basic infrastructure. For instance, residents of Gopinatham must travel nearly four hours to reach the district headquarters in Chamarajanagar, whereas Mettur in Tamil Nadu is only an hour away. Officials noted that poverty and isolation often drive individuals toward illegal activities.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Kumar Pushkar stated that addressing these challenges requires an integrated effort across multiple government departments. He highlighted past initiatives, including a Cabinet meeting held in the region where several development projects were approved, while adding that stronger leadership and division-level departmental resources will help improve deterrence and case detection.