A tigress, that was captured on May 29, after it attacked and lifted 12 cattle in two months in the Nagarhole region, died last week.
A tigress, that was captured on May 29, after it attacked and lifted 12 cattle in two months in the Nagarhole region, died last week. She was tranquilised, captured and rehabilitated from Antharsanthe range near the Kabini backwaters in Nagarhole Tiger Reserve to Bhadra Tiger Reserve. The carcass of the two-year-old was found on Friday afternoon.
With this, the death toll of tigers in the area has risen to four in the last 36 days and five in the last two months. However, what makes experts suspect foulplay in these deaths is that most of the dead are tigresses.
The dead tigress was captured by forest officials and kept captive for three days, before she was released into the Bhadra wildlife sanctuary, which has a smaller tiger population. However, during the three days of captivity, the tigress was constantly exposed to humans — a condition that wild animals are not experienced to, unlike zoo animals. Also, during this period, officials had contacted experts to radio-collar her for further studies.
Senior forest officials and experts say that the tigress might have died due to an overdose of sedatives and shock. The wild cat may also have been mishandled by officials, which could have led to her death.
Noted tiger scientist Dr Ullas Karanth of Wildlife Conservation Society and director, Centre for Wildlife Studies said, “Forest department officials had contacted us to radio-collar the tigress, but we did not do so as she was stressed and was emanciated. She was not eating properly as well. The exact reason of her death will be known only after the post mortem report is obtained. We suggested officials to rehabilitate her to Bhadra as the tiger the reserves at Bandipur and Nagarhole are saturated with tigers, while Bhadra has a bleak population.”
However, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BK Singh told DNA, “We are waiting for the post-mortem report. Rehabilitation was done as per the wildlife rules and it was a policy decision. The orders were issued by me.’’
The death of another tigress was reported on late Saturday evening in Gundre range of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Forest officials opine that the 5-year-old’s death was natural due to territorial dispute. The post-mortem report of this is also awaited.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}