The discovery of tiger remains in Bandipur close to the place where the famed “Prince” was found dead has triggered a controversy with questions being raised over the manner of its death.

The tiger, identified by its strip pattern by Wildlife Conservation Society (WSC) as BPT-222 but known by its moniker Prince, died in the last week of March in the Kundakere range of Bandipur. He had a fan following among wildlife photographers given his propensity to move freely in the tourism zone and was uncharacteristically not shy of human beings.

Though the Forest Department stated that Prince died of old age, a section of activists now suspect foul play in its death consequent to the discovery of facial remains suspected to be that of the same tiger. But what has triggered alarm is the photograph depicting the dead tiger with its face scrapped off, which is going viral on social media sites since Thursday.

A section of the activists aver that Prince may have fallen prey to poaching or was killed as an act of vendetta.

When contacted, T. Heeralal, Conservator of Forests, Bandipur, told The Hinduthat it was all sheer speculation and there was no way any one could enter the core forests to perpetuate such an act.

“What we suspect is that on finding the tiger dead, the miscreant may have chopped off the portion of the face and left it behind which has now been retrieved,” said Mr. Heeralal. Investigation is on to ascertain and identify the miscreant behind the act and why he perpetuated it, he added.

However, Joseph Hoover, a wildlife activist and former member of State Board for Wildlife, said it was inconceivable as to why someone would try to hack off a snout of a dead tiger.

“The place near Kundkere where Prince died, was also the site close to where a tiger was poisoned two years ago and now we have this photograph which was not released the day the tiger was found dead,” said Mr. Hoover, demanding more transparency from the Forest Department.

Activists say the photograph of the dead tiger indicated that a portion of its face was blown off by a crude explosive that is camouflaged with fodder to kill wild boars, a practice adopted by some villagers on the forest edges. But the park officials maintain that the tiger’s face and snout was scrapped off using a sickle and a portion of it was found in the vicinity.

The facial remains of the dead tiger was subsequently disposed of as per NTCA protocols, according to the park director.