Elderly Farmer Critically Injured in Wild Bison Attack at Madhugundi in Mudigere Taluk

In a distressing incident highlighting the escalating human-wildlife conflict in the Malnad region, a 72-year-old farmer sustained critical injuries after being attacked by a wild bison in Madhugundi village of Mudigere taluk, Chikkamagaluru district, on September 1, 2026. The victim, identified as Nanjegowda, was engaged in routine agricultural work at his coffee plantation on Tuesday morning when a wild Indian gaur suddenly emerged from the nearby forest cover and charged at him. The animal inflicted severe injuries on Nanjegowda's legs, arms, and thigh area, leaving him heavily bleeding on the ground. Hearing his cries for help, nearby villagers and family members rushed to his rescue and immediately shifted him to the Banakal Primary Health Centre for emergency medical aid. Owing to the severity of his deep wounds and critical condition, attending medical officers advised transferring him to a multi-specialty hospital in Mangaluru for advanced surgical treatment. The Banakal police have registered a case regarding the incident under their jurisdictional limits. The brutal attack has sparked fresh panic among residents across Mudigere taluk, where wild bison and elephant incursions into coffee estates and agricultural fields have become increasingly frequent. Local coffee growers and agricultural workers have urged the forest department to deploy dedicated tracking squads and erect protective fencing to prevent wild animals from entering human settlements.