According to Karnataka forest officials, the tiger was seen sitting without any movement an inch in the backwaters of Negu Dam on Thursday morning
A male tiger from Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka on Friday morning succumbed to its injuries possibly due to starvation and injuries that left it immobile, after it was rescued on Thursday.
According to Karnataka forest officials, the tiger was seen sitting without any movement an inch in the backwaters of Negu Dam on Thursday morning. Realising it could be severely injured, the forest department sought permission to tranquilise the big cat for treatment.
Forest officials claimed that they initially suspected that the tiger could have been injured while trying to prey on a large animal like a guar, but close observation of injuries suggested it could be a territorial fight with another tiger.
Bengaluru-based Joseph Hoover who is member of State Wildlife Advisory Board said that it was a right decision of the forest department to sedate the animal. "It seems that since the Mysore zoo was shut due to the avian flu cases, the tiger had to be taken to Bannergatta. I called the officials to get information on the tiger on Friday morning and was shocked to know that it did not survive," he said. He will try and gather more details on the case on Monday to understand how quick the response was and whether anything could have been done to save the tiger.
Hoover added that on enquiry, he was told that the injuries were at least 15 days old and there were bite marks on its limbs. This suggests the tiger was involved in a fight with another male.
Dr Sujay Suresh, Veterinarian, Bannerghatta National Park, Bengaluru stated that the tiger was dead before being brought to Bannerghatta. "The tiger had multiple fractures on its right fore limb which did not allow it to move, and apart from that, its kidney and lungs too were found compromised upon inspection. The animal was also starving as its stomach had no food and septicemia had set in causing its death," he said. He added that possibly the animal did not have any food for at least two to three days.
Wildlife activists claimed that forest department should keep actively patrolling the forest, specially during the mating season when these territorial fights increase and injured tigers are pushed out of the forest. They also said there should be proper trained staff and vets to handle such situations.
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