Tiger cub found dead in Bandhavgarh

BHOPAL: Yet another tiger cub was found dead in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) on Thursday evening. Going by the official reason for the death- adult tiger killed the cub in a fight over territorial supremacy. It is the fourth tiger killed in territorial war in the state in the past six months.

The carcass of the tiger cub was found 1 km from the Tala rest house. PCCF Narendra Kumar said the cub was two-and-half-year-old and was killed on July 2.

The carcass was recovered when top wildlife officers, including principal chief conservator of forest (PCCFs wildlife) from four states and former directors of the park were busy with workshop on grassland management at BTR.

"It's clear that the cub was killed by another adult tiger. Officers have found pug marks also. We have sent the viscera for detailed investigation," PCCF told TOI.

Wildlife activists however blame it on forest officers. "When they knew that the reserve is overcrowded they should make alternative arrangements to shift the cubs to safe zones instead of leaving them to die," says Ajay Dubey, - the petitioner on whose petition the Supreme Court banned tourist activities in core areas of tiger reserves.

Admitting that BTR is overcrowded and the PCCF said the department has already sent a communication to the National Tiger Conservator Authority (NTCA) for shifting of two tigresses from BTR to Panna National Park.

Earlier in May, a tiger cub was found dead near the Sheshaiya area in Tala range during a routine patrolling. In all, 13 tigers were killed in MP in 2012, including six unnatural deaths.