This is said to be the thirty seventh death over turf struggle in 18 months, indicating dearth of space within protected areas where tigers have multiplied like never before under extra care, officials say.

Latest death in the series was reported from Pench National Park, Seoni district where carcass of an young male tiger was found by patrolling squad at KarmaJhiri beat on Saturday evening.

Considering the stage of its purification, forest officials suspect, the tiger must have died three days ago i.e. Wednesday.

Officials have also found the traces of another tiger around the spot besides remains of two spotted deer preyed by it. Autopsy surgeons said the tiger had a broken rib, deep wounds around its neck and a ruptured lungs.

"This tiger got separated from its mother a few months back and was moving around in an area dominated by another adult tiger who seems to have killed it," said a forest officer.

He said the deceased feline had separated some months ago from its mother and had entered the territory of another tiger who killed it. The forest officer also ruled out the possibility of poaching, as all body parts have been found intact. Pench itself has lost eight of its tigers since January 2016.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey says that the issue of turf wars should be taken seriously.