With forest officials yet to arrest the offender, they say action should be initiated as only deterrence could stop people from indulging in such heinous activities.

This is not the first time such an incident of poisoning has occurred in Bandipur. The protected area has been witnessing such cases where big cats, elephants and other wildlife have being targeted by people residing on the fringes of national parks.

In January 2014, another incident of poisoning of a leopard had been reported from Omkara range.

Being a high conflict area, the Bandipur protected area sees frequent elephant raids and visibility of big cats in farm fields.

According to Wildlife Protection Society of India, this year (till July), 92 leopards have been already been killed in India due to poaching, poisoning and seizures. Between 1994-2015, 1664 leopards have been killed due to poaching and other related reasons.

Welcoming the registration of a case against the offender, Praveen Bhargav of Wildlife First said, “The culprit has been identified, but they could not arrest him as they were resisted by a mob. But now, they must start investigations and arrest Kumara, the offender. We hope investigations will proceed based on the leads found at the site where the black panther and leopard were found dead in Kumara’s land.”

Bhargav adds, “It is only deterrence that will stop such instances. Under Schedule 1, killing of wildlife amounts to seven years in jail. Conviction is the strongest deterrent and the offender should be brought before the court in the shortest possible time.”

Dr KrithiKaranth, Associate Conservation Scientist, Asia Wildlife Conservation Society, adds, “For people to tolerate losses to wildlife — be crops, livestock, property or pets — we need to actively help them alleviate such happenings in protected areas.”

Wildlife conservationist D V Girish from Chikkamagaluru adds, “There is an urgent need to identify and mark high conflict areas in the state to mitigate such incidents. Apart from that, we have to pay substantial compensation to affected people as now only part-payment for actual losses is made. The payments are very slow and procedures are cumbersome and the amounts are not paid at the right time.

“We should encourage people to give up and move out of high conflict areas. The government has to think of alternatives. Otherwise, such incidents of poisoning or snaring wildlife will continue.”