JORHAT: A female tiger cub was found dead at Agoratoli forest range in Kaziranga National Park on Tuesday. Although the cause of the cub's death is yet to be ascertained, forest officials believe it might have died in an attack by a male tiger. The cub was about six months old.
"Preliminary investigation suggests that the tiger cub died after it was attacked by a male tiger. When the female tiger feeds her cubs, often the male tiger attack its own cubs for food. It is a regular and natural phenomenon among big cats," said chief conservator of forest (Kaziranga) N K Vasu.
He added, "On receiving the news, forest staff and veterinarians, alongwith officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, rushed to the spot to ascertain the cause of the death of the cub. Veterinarians also conducted an and the reports are awaited. The actual reason behind the death can be ascertained only after we receive the post-mortem reports." The incident occurred near Balipukhuri anti-poaching camp in Agoratoli forest range of the national park this morning.
Meanwhile, a one-horned rhino has been battling for life in Orang National Park after sustaining bullet injuries. Forest staff said poachers attacked the rhino when it strayed out of the park on Monday night. "The rhino was attacked by a group of poachers in the park early on Tuesday. According to the reports received from witnesses, a bullet hit the animal. But it is reported to be alive and battling for life," said a forest official. He added that the poachers managed to flee from the park before the authorities launched a search operation.
