According to sources, two poachers, one from Bhandan village and one from Singardeep village in Pench's buffer zone were arrested with four tiger paws by the mobile squad of the Chhindwara forest department on Monday. More arrests are likely in the case, said sources.

According to forest sources, the tiger was poached in Bichua block under Gumtara range. However, officials were not available for comments to confirm from where the tiger was poached.

Sources said poachers confessed to have killed the tiger in December, but the paws seem to be of a tiger killed very recently.

In the recent past, tigers have been easy target in Pench and its buffer. "This not also indicates poor protection but also that gangs of organized poachers are still active in trading tiger skins and body parts," wildlife conservationists said.

In the meanwhile, two tiger cubs of Baghin Nullah tigress from Pench have been captured and sent to Kanha National Park.