Chandrapur: The 20-day-old emaciated tiger cub found separated from mother tigress in Sindewahi range on Saturday afternoon succumbed to exhaustion and hunger later in the evening. Veterinary doctors's efforts to revive the cub after rescuing it from forest went in vain. Post-mortem will be carried out on Sunday at Brahmapuri.
According to official sources, the small tiger cub, sex of whom could not be confirmed, was discovered aside the forest road in compartment No. 1407 in protected forest under Maregon beat in Sindewahi range. Soon the news spread like wildfire and a large crowd of the people gathered around the place.
On getting information, RFO VB Kambli rushed to the location and took control of the situation. Foresters cordoned off the place and removed the crowd away anticipating that mother tigress will return to reclaim the cub. They surmised that mother tigress might be in process of shifting its cubs and this one was left behind to be reclaimed after some time. But, when they found that mother tigress had not returned to the place even after few hours, foresters with the help of veterinary doctor rescued the cub and conducted its medical examination.
Officials confirmed that the cub was emaciated and malnourished and needed medical attention. While cub was treated and provided with milk, it succumbed to exhaustion and hunger late in the evening.
Chandrapur CCF Sanjay Thakre confirmed the cub's death and claimed that its body is being shifted to Brahmapuri to keep in deep freezer overnight. Officials also suspect that there could be more litters to the same mother tigress and their condition similarly might be similarly worse. Hence they have planned to launch search operation in the area to locate the mother tigress and its cubs ascertain their physical condition.
This is eighth case of tiger death in Chandrapur district this year.
Balapur tigress's cubs still missing
Meanwhile the teams of foresters busy in search operation of three missing cubs of dead tigress in FDCM Balapur failed to recover them even after seven days on Saturday.
FDCM officials have sought the help of wildlife experts and NGO activist to trace the seven-month-old cubs. However, good vegetative growth and greenery due to monsoon season is posing hurdle in locating the cub. Search parties have repeatedly recovered their pub-marks and have even sighted them on Friday, but still have failed to trap them.
