BHOPAL: A four-year-old tigress was killed in a turf war with another tigress in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh National Park on Monday.

Tigress's carcass, with deep bruises, was found near Bamera dam situated within Panpatha Range, by people in Kaseru villagers.

"It was a sub-adult tigress. Body had several injury marks, which indicates that it might have died in infighting. These fights are common during the mating season. It died on Sunday night," state's chief wildlife warden Narendra Kumar told TOI.

He, however, ruled out that it was a case of poaching.

"All the body parts are intact, including the skin. Hence, it was not a case of poaching," he said.

"It's a war over territorial supremacy. This reserve is overcrowded and may lead to more deaths of big cats in turf war," said wildlife expert adding overpopulation of big cats in the reserve has forced them to redefine their territories, resulting in fights, especially in Bandhavgarh national park which hosts around 70 tigers.

Local conservationist Pusphendra Dwivedi claims the reserve officials are trying to hush up the matter. Possibility that this tigress might have fell victim to poaching attempt cannot be ruled out. "There should be a transparency in cases of a death of big cat within the reserve. Officials swiftly disposed of its carcass after autopsy. There could be something fishy," he said.