NAGPUR: The death of five-year-old Katezari tigress on Mudholi-Katwal road near Sindhdhawan outside Tadoba National Park is shrouded in mystery with locals and experts suspecting it to be a result of hit-n-run accident.
Yesterday, forest officials gave territorial fight as reason of feline's death. However, spot circumstances and veterinary doctors indicate the death of adult tigress dying in a road hit cannot be ruled out. Tadoba deputy conservator of forests (buffer) Gajendra Narwane ruled out possibility of poaching or even poisoning. "We have not closed the case. Looking at the fresh injuries, we suspect the tigress might have died in wild boar attack. Only a final post-mortem report will reveal the truth," he said.
However, wildlife vets and experts, who did not wish to be named, said it was unlikely such an experienced and adult tigress, that reared four cubs successfully, would fall to a wild boar. They further said due to sparse traffic, of late many tourists had started using Mudholi road as it was a shortcut to Moharli. Possibility of a light vehicle hitting the tigress could not be ruled out.
"Many times even in road hit, an animal walks a certain distance before collapsing. Last month, a leopard got hit near Junona near Chandrapur. It too did not have fracture in its skull but died due to heavy internal bleeding," a wildlife vet told TOI. The Katezari tigress too, according to Dr Vinod Ramteke of district veterinary hospital in Chandrapur, died of heavy internal bleeding in cavity. "This happens due to a strong hit. There is also inflammation near abdomen. We are perplexed with the deep injury on front right claws of the tigress. The carcass was more than 36 hours old," he said.
Dr Ramteke added wild boar meat and hair were found in the stomach of the tigress. "There is also a possibility the tigress might have been attacked by the wild boar while preying," he said. Interestingly, more than 50% of the wild boar meat was consumed by the tigress. A vet involved in the post-mortem said it was possible the tigress could have been hit by a vehicle while walking after consuming meat. There were wounds and injuries on the wildcat's shoulder and other parts but no fractures. Samples of wild boar meat, tigress skin and viscera are being sent to forensic lab at Nagpur, said Dr Ramteke.
Narwane admitted there was need to install speed-breakers on road on western side of Tadoba. "We would also display banners and posters informing travellers about presence of wild animals," he said.
