Tiger found dead in field at Bardkinhi near Brahmapuri; clash between two tigers suspected
A male tiger aged about one and a half to two years was found dead in a farm in North Brahmapuri forest range, and the forest department suspects a fight with another tiger.
A tiger has been found dead in the North Brahmapuri forest range of the Brahmapuri forest division. The carcass was found in the Bardkinhi area, which falls under the Chichkheda beat of the Mendki sub-range. The forest department's preliminary assessment is that the animal died in a fight between two tigers.
According to the information available, Patwari Ramaji Gedam, a farmer from Bardkinhi, had gone to his field. He saw a dead tiger in the field at Gat No. 262 and immediately informed the forest department.
A forest team reached the spot soon after. The team was led by Assistant Conservator of Forests Dr Mahesh Gaikwad and Range Forest Officer Arup Kannamwar, under the guidance of Deputy Conservator of Forests Dr Kumaraswamy. It inspected the site and drew up a spot panchnama. The dead tiger was then taken to the Brahmapuri forest department office for a post-mortem.
Honorary wildlife warden Amol Gaurkar, SWAB organisation president Yash Kayarkar, forest guards Rajendra Bharne, Dilip Lade, Sachin Shende and Masalkar, and field assistant Rakesh Chaudhari were among the officials and staff present.
The post-mortem was conducted by Sanjay Bawane (Assistant Commissioner, Brahmapuri), Dr Atul Urkude (veterinary officer, Brahmapuri) and Dr Manoj Patil (veterinary officer, Shankarpur). Samples of the tiger's viscera have been sent to a laboratory for further examination.
According to the forest department's preliminary estimate, the dead tiger is a male aged about one and a half to two years. Judging by conditions at the spot, it is believed at first sight that the animal clashed with a tiger already established in the area, after moving into a new territory. It is suspected that the tiger died in this fight.
Marks showing that parts of the tiger's body had been eaten were also found at the spot. Even so, the actual cause of death, and which tiger's attack killed it, will become clear only after the inquiry is complete.
The forest department has placed camera traps around the site. Footage is being monitored to track the movement of tigers in the area, and an effort is being made to identify the tiger involved in the incident.
The forest department said the exact cause of the tiger's death will be known only after the post-mortem report and laboratory results are received.
