A Royal Bengal tiger was found dead at Duduruchampa under Nawna range of Similipal tiger reserve in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, reports Sandip Mishra. STR director Prakash Chand Gogineni said on Thursday that a patrolling team of the reserve found the carcass of the male tiger, aged about three-and-a-half years, near a nullah early on Monday (February 5) morning.
“Our personnel and a team from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) conducted an autopsy of the carcass on Feb 6. As per the guideline, samples have been collected and sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, and Wildlife Institute of India to ascertain the exact cause of death,” Gogineni said.
Officials said there were no injury marks on the body of the tiger and the carcass had not started decomposing, pointing to the fact that it has been spotted within 24 hours of its death.
“Our personnel and a team from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) conducted an autopsy of the carcass on Feb 6. As per the guideline, samples have been collected and sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, and Wildlife Institute of India to ascertain the exact cause of death,” Gogineni said.
Officials said there were no injury marks on the body of the tiger and the carcass had not started decomposing, pointing to the fact that it has been spotted within 24 hours of its death.
In May 2023, a melanistic (black stripe) tiger was found dead in the Nawna range (south) of the reserve. The reason for the death was found to be a fight over territory with another male tiger.