CCTV footage capturing the movement of a tigress and her four cubs at Nanjedevapura in Chamarajanagar district has put the Forest Department on high alert, with Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre directing officials to ensure continuous surveillance and safe capture and relocation of the animals to a secure habitat.The Minister chaired an emergency meeting via video conference on December 23 and instructed forest authorities to immediately install cages and, if required, use tranquillisation to safely capture the five tigers.He noted that the presence of the animals on private land had created fear among local residents and stressed that the operation must ensure zero loss of human life while also safeguarding wildlife.Mr. Khandre ordered round-the-clock monitoring using drones and thermal cameras to track the movement of the tigers. Villagers should be alerted if the animals approach habitations, and Forest Department teams must be deployed without delay to prevent any untoward incident, he said.Describing the capture of five tigers as a complex and sensitive operation, the Minister directed senior officials to exercise utmost caution so that neither the animals nor the rescue teams are harmed. He also ordered the deployment of additional veterinarians, sharpshooters and all required equipment, besides arranging extra elephants as a precautionary measure.The Minister instructed officials to ensure the safety of field staff and strictly enforce Section 144 to prevent public gathering at the operation site.Meanwhile, the Minister has ordered the intensification of e-patrolling, with all forest staff and officers directed to install the mobile application to enable monitoring from the central office. Command centres should be made operational immediately, and patrolling must be carried out without lapses, he said.Mr. Khandre asked officials to consult experts and submit a report suggesting permanent solutions to prevent wild animals from straying from forest areas into human settlements.Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Meenakshi Negi, senior officials Manoranjan and Biswajit Mishra, and wildlife expert Sanjay Gubbi were among those present.Published - December 23, 2025 07:53 pm IST