NAGPUR: It was a bad day for wildlife. Two villagers were mauled to death by a problem leopard near Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), while a full grown tigress was found dead on Wednesday in proposed Mahendri wildlife sanctuary near Amravati. This is the fifth tiger death in the state since January 2013, while the toll is 31 nationally.
Mohan Jha, chief conservator of forests (CCF) for Amravati Circle, said the carcass of the tigress was found in Urad beat under Warud forest range near Lohada village during patrolling by forest guard BS Alsapure.
When Jha, along with deputy conservator of forest (DyCF) Ninu Somraj, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) representative Vishal Bansod, wildlife PCCF's representative Dr Swapnil Sonone and RFO V B Nimbhorkar reached the spot, they found that two quills of a porcupine had pierced deep into the hip of the tigress. Veterinary doctors suspect the carcass is eight days old.
""Our preliminary investigation indicates the tigress died in a fight with porcupine. We recovered two-three porcupine spines within 20 metre of the place where we found the carcass. All body parts like nails, teeth, skin and bones were intact, indicating it was not a case of poaching,"" Jha said. Water samples from nearby water holes will be sent for examination, he added.
""In the past six months frequent attacks on livestock were reported in the area. Probably this may be the same animal. However, post-mortem will reveal the exact cause of death,"" said Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda Foundation.
The area where the tigress was found dead did not have tiger presence since 2004 although the forest enjoyed good herbivore population and is vital wildlife corridor connecting Melghat with Pench tiger reserves through Paratwada-Morshi-Warud ranges of Amravati.
""Athaner range of South Betul in Madhya Pradesh further connects to Saoner and Khapa ranges near Pench,"" said Rithe, who has studied these areas.
""A proposal to declare 80 sq km Mahendri as a sanctuary is gathering dust with the state government, which has never given priority to this area. We have lost a precious tigress. How can we ensure genetic exchange among the tiger populations without such small sanctuaries in between tiger reserves?"" Rithe asked.
Death Trail in 2013
* Jan 6: Ekara in Brahmapuri
* Jan 12: Tigress shot dead near Navegaon
* Jan 17: Carcass found in Deolapar
* Mar 4: Body parts found in Dhakna, Melghat
* April 10: Tigress found dead in Urad, Warud
