Mysuru: The tigress that majestically held the title of being the ‘Queen of Kabini backwaters’ died on Monday night due to negligence of the forest officials.It is alleged that the tigress died due to overdose of tranquilizer during an operation to capture her in H D Kote taluk.

The forest officials had received the information that a nine-year-old tigress had ventured into a plantation of one Ramesh at Gundathur forest area and ate away a calf. Since the tigress remained in the plantation, the forest officials rushed to the spot and tried to capture the tigress. At about 5 pm, when the forest officials started their operation, the tigress escaped into the forest. Within one hour, the forest officials tracked her down and shot first dose of tranquilizer. At about 7 pm, the tiger fell unconscious and then the forest officials tried to lift her up and place her on a net. This is when the tigress again got up on her feet and tried to escape. Sensing trouble, forest staffers shot another dose of tranquilizer. After one hour the tigress collapsed in the forest. However, it is said that since the forest officials delayed administration of a medication that should have followed the tranquilizer, the tigress died at about 10 pm.

The locals have been raged by the death of the tigress and they are now seen blaming the forest officials for the death. They claim that despite the information about the tigress entering the plantation having been passed to the department in the morning, they got into action mode only at 5 pm. It may be recalled that on January 12, an eight-year-old tiger died after being captured by the forest officials in Bandipur area. It is said that even this tiger had an overdose of tranquilizer.

All in all, due to unscientific operations of the forest department has killed the Majestic Queen of Kabini who was enthralling the tourists for nearly a decade.