Poachers Hunt Sambar Deer in Karnataka’s MM Hills Sanctuary, Flee Leaving Meat Behind

Late Tuesday night, a quiet stretch of the Malai Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka was disturbed by the crack of gunfire. Near the backwaters of the Uduthore Halla dam, inside the Hanur buffer zone, a sambar deer fell victim to a group of suspected poachers.

According to the Forest Department, four men were involved. Witnesses say the hunters had already begun to skin and cut the animal when forest officials arrived on the scene during a surprise raid. Realising they were about to be caught, the men scattered into the surrounding forest, abandoning the freshly cut meat.

Forest personnel quickly secured the abandoned carcass, documented the evidence and filed a formal case against the culprits. The department has now launched an intensive search operation, combing the nearby terrain and gathering tips from locals to pinpoint the fugitives.

This episode throws a harsh spotlight on the persistent poaching problem that haunts the Chamarajanagar district’s wildlife corridors. Just days earlier, a violent shoot‑out in the neighboring Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary claimed three lives, a case that remains under investigation.

Officials emphasized that protecting the sanctuary’s biodiversity demands constant vigilance. “Every lost animal is a blow to the ecosystem,” said a senior forest officer, urging the community to report any suspicious activity.

While the search continues, authorities hope the recovered meat and forensic evidence will help them track down the perpetrators and send a clear message: poaching will not be tolerated.