Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Dynamite Blasts and Guns Challenge Foresters in Cauvery Sanctuary
Three forest camps in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary were damaged by dynamite.
The blasts happened after forest guards shot three suspected poachers during a patrol.
The guards said they found deer meat and guns near the suspects.
Some people living near the sanctuary reportedly have country-made guns.
Forest officials believe these guns make poaching more likely and make their work more dangerous.
They also said several camps have only about three personnel each.
The officials want the government to remove illegal guns and add more staff.
Police are investigating the blasts and the shooting.
Unidentified people reportedly used dynamite to damage three anti-poaching camps in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary on August 15.
The blasts followed forest personnel shooting dead three suspected poachers in the Hanur range on August 14.
Officials recovered about 30 kilograms of suspected deer meat and two country-made guns from the deceased suspects.
Forest personnel said country-made guns are widely accessible in villages bordering the sanctuary and give poachers confidence.
Officials have sought government action to seize such guns and provide more staff for anti-poaching operations.
- Who
- Forest personnel, three suspected poachers, and unidentified people reportedly involved in the blasts; police are investigating.
- What
- Three anti-poaching camps were damaged by dynamite after forest personnel shot dead three suspected poachers and seized suspected deer meat and country-made guns.
- When
- The shooting occurred around 5:30 a.m. on August 14; the dynamite blasts occurred under cover of darkness on August 15.
- Where
- Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, particularly the Shagya section of Hanur range; camps named Betterayagudda and Ollemaradatti were among those damaged.
- Why
- Forest officials linked the incident to continuing poaching and retaliation after the shooting, while seeking gun seizures and additional staff to improve enforcement.
Forest officials’ concerns
Reported resistance around sanctuary
Guns and enforcement
Forest officials’ concerns
Forest personnel said access to country-made guns gives habitual poachers confidence to commit forest offences and makes small anti-poaching teams vulnerable.
Reported resistance around sanctuary
The article reports that people on the sanctuary’s fringes possess country-made guns and that unidentified persons allegedly used dynamite against camps after the shooting, but it does not provide a direct statement from those people.
Response to the shooting
Forest officials’ concerns
Officials described the three people shot as suspected poachers wanted by the department and said the patrol recovered suspected deer meat and guns.
Reported resistance around sanctuary
The blasts occurred after the shooting, suggesting a possible retaliatory response, although police were still investigating and no perpetrators were identified.
- Sanctuary
- Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
- Damaged camps
- Betterayagudda, Ollemaradatti, and another camp whose name an official could not recall
- Shooting date
- August 14
- Blast date
- August 15
- Recovered meat
- About 30 kilograms, reportedly deer meat
- Weapons seized
- Two country-made guns
- Requested measures
- Seizure of country-made guns and deployment of adequate anti-poaching staff