(IN): Two tigers found dead in Bandipur

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Two tigers found dead in Bandipur

7 Jun, 2007 l 0339 hrs ISTlJoseph Hoover/TIMES NEWS NETWORK

 

Link:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Two_tigers_found_dead_in_Bandipur/articleshow\

/2105154.cms

 

BANGALORE: Alarm bells are ringing loud in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Two

tigers have been found mysteriously dead in the N-Begur range, taking the

toll of the elusive cat's death to three in two months.

 

It was by chance that the forest staff discovered the devoured carcass of a

male tiger six days ago deep in the forest. Noticing vultures descend, our

guard discovered the bones and skin of the animal. But there wasn't much

left in it to ascertain the cause of death, " said principal chief

conservator of forests A K Varma.

 

The second carcass was found near a waterhole on Sunday last when the staff

were on beat duty. It is estimated that the six-year-old tigress died four

days before its remains were stumbled upon. We have sent blood samples,

heart and liver for forensic evaluation. Though we are confident that it

died of natural cause, we will have to await the postmortem report, " said

Varma.

 

As the tiger death trail goes, a majestic male was killed in the precincts

of the tiger reserve in May. In an attempt to tranqulise a said-to-be

man-eater, the animal had been shot by a police inspector.

 

Though no reason can be attributed to the series of deaths and attacks in

tiger project area, conservationists feel it could be due to lack of

frontline staff. The department, though, assigns it to the natural cycle

wherein the fittest survive. But then, three tigers dead in two months is

hard to stomach.

 

1 attacked by tiger: A cowherd was attacked by a tiger in the reserve on

Wednesday enraging villagers who live around the forest periphery.

Fortunately, Chikkadasi, a resident of Dadadalli haadi, is recovering in a

Mysore hospital. The tiger had attacked him at around 9 am in the Moleyur

Range, " said Varma. It is learnt that Gopal had ventured into the reserve to

graze his cattle.