Two tigers found dead, leopard run over by train

Nagpur, Jan 4 (PT) Two tigers and a leopard were found dead at separate places in the district and the adjoining Pench tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh.

The incidents come close on the heels of the death of four tiger cubs in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district last week, which had prompted state Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar to seek a SIT probe into the matter.

A young male tiger was found dead yesterday in south Junewani beat in Deolapar forest range, about 75 kms from here close to Madhya Pradesh border, forest sources said.

The dead tiger, with code name ‘KT23’, was apparently one of the cubs of a tigress from Pench tiger reserve in MP, a forest official said.

The cause of the death was yet to be ascertained, he said adding that carcasses of a wild boar and a chital were also found about 100 metres away from the dead tiger.

Electrocution or poisoning is suspected to have caused the feline’s death, sources said.

However, forest officials of the Nagpur Division ruled out poaching but said all angles will be probed.

An autopsy of the tiger’s carcass was conducted and several vital body parts were being sent for forensic tests to know the exact cause of the death, the official said.

Also, another young male tiger was found dead at an open well in the Pench tiger reserve of adjoining Madhya Pradesh, he said.

It is suspected to be an accident which might have happened while the big cat was chasing its prey near Simariya village in Vijaypani forest circle of Ghatkohoka range.

The spot falls under the buffer zone of Pench.

The well did not have a boundary wall, sources said.

Besides, a young leopard was killed apparently after being run over by a train near Chimnazari village in Butibori range of Nagpur division, the forest official said.

The incident came to light yesterday morning when some villagers spotted the dead leopard.

The leopard’s carcass did not bear any external injury, but had internal fractures, the official added.