With a height of 125cm and length of 285cm, the tiger named T14 was the dominant male of Chikhaldara range for the last six years. According to sources, T14 had till now produced 30 cubs and the tiger was recorded in camera traps since 2013 and was last sighted on November 3, 2015.

The putrefied carcass of the tiger was found by foresters Ashish Kokate, SatyafullaSolankhee and others during patrolling in Pachamba forest beat.

Field director Dinesh Tyagi, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), RK Wankhede, assistant conservator (ACF) Vishal Mali along with honorary wildlife warden Jayant Wadatkar and assistant commissioner of animal husbandry at Achalpur Dr VS Rahate rushed to the spot. Dr Rahate said prima facie it seems to be a natural death since there had been no tampering with the carcass.

The tiger might have died of sunstroke. The carcass was five days old and in a highly decomposed state.

Forest officials have sent samples of viscera, lungs, heart, stomach contents, maggots and water for forensic analysis at Nagpur to confirm the exact cause of death. The field director ruled out poaching as all the body parts such as skull, jaws, canines, nails and paws were intact. There were no signs of unnatural cause of death.

The carcass was burned in the presence of all officials and veterinary doctors after the post mortem