2nd tiger death in Kheri in 5 days

Pilibhit: A tiger, aged around 8-10 years, was found dead near Udaipur village, about 500-600 metres from Mohammadi forest range in South Kheri forest division, on Monday night, making it the second tiger death in the area in five days, officials said on Tuesday.Forest staff said the tiger was alive when a team reached the spot. It was first seen lying on a dirt track between sugarcane fields before moving into a nearby field, where it later collapsed and died.Mohammadi range officer Nirbhai Pratap Shahi said the tiger had maggot-infested wounds on its forelegs, paws and right shoulder, besides scratches on its face, indicating it may have been injured in a fight with another tiger several days ago.

The carcass was sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, for autopsy.The forest teams that traced the injured tiger had been deployed to monitor a big cat that injured Kalicharan, 57, a farmer from the same village, on Monday afternoon while he was grazing buffaloes. Since the attack site was about 200 metres from where the carcass was found, forest officials suspect it may have been the same tiger.

Wildlife veterinarians said the tiger could have survived if it had been traced earlier. They said the wounds appeared to be more than a week old and may have led to septicaemia, a severe blood infection. The injuries would have restricted the animal’s movement, making it easier to track, they added.Divisional forest officer Tapas Mihir, however, said the wounds appeared superficial. “The factual situation will be clarified by the post-mortem report, which is expected within three or four days,” he said.Meanwhile, the state govt has ordered an SIT inquiry into the death of a lactating tigress that died after being tranquilised in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve’s buffer zone on June 23. The probe will also examine the handling of the rescue operation and the failure to trace her cubs.Principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest force) Sunil Chaudhary said the three-member inquiry team is headed by Lalit Verma, principal chief conservator of forests (planning and research). APCCF (projects) A P Sinha and Lucknow Zoo veterinary officer Dr Utkarsh Shukla are its members. “The team is expected to reach Kheri within a day or two,” Chaudhary said.Chief wildlife warden Anuradha Vemuri has also deputed Dr Mohammad Nasir, a veterinary officer from Kanpur Zoo, to examine all aspects related to the tigress’s sedation, death and the disappearance of her cubs.