Tiger died after fight over territory: Official

NEW DELHI: A young tiger found dead in the core area of Kanha Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh early this year died during a fight over territory with another big cat allaying fears that the animal fell prey to poisoning, an official said on Thursday.

"We have received viscera and liver content reports which do not suggest any trace of poisoning. We had been maintaining that the young tiger had died in a fight with another over territory," R P Singh, director of Kanha Tiger Reserves said.

He said the parts of the dead cat such as skins, claws, bones were found intact while the body bore injury mark usually inflicted in fighting with another tiger in Kitschli range in the state in the first week of January.

"Fight between the royal predators over the territory is natural and since there are good number of big cats in the reserve, such fights are bound to happen," Singh said.

The official dismissed allegations that some gangs were active in the area and cause the death of around nine tigers including two cubs in the reserve in the last three months which has raised concern among wildlife experts.

"Except one which was electrocuted, most of the tigers have died in the core areas and there have been no reports of foul play," Singh added.

A team from Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is already in Kanha sanctuary to probe whether any gang is involved into killing of the tigers.