SIT formed to probe Dudhwa tigress' 'sudden' death; NTCA seeks report

Lakhimpur Kheri: A three-member special investigation team comprising wildlife experts and a veterinarian has been formed to probe the death of a tigress in the Majhgain range of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve buffer zone, Uttar Pradesh Forest Minister Arun Kumar Saxena said on Monday.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the apex body overseeing Project Tiger, has also sought a detailed report on the circumstances leading to the tigress' death, an official said.

The tigress, suspected to have killed two persons in quick succession - 60-year-old farmer Matadin on June 14 and 40-year-old Kokila on June 15 - in the Ramnagar area of the Majhgain range, was tranquillised and captured alive on the morning of June 23 after a week-long patrolling by forest officials.


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According to forest officials, the big cat recovered from tranquillisation within minutes while still in the cage. A medical examination declared the tigress fit to be released back into the forest, officials said.

However, according to Kirti Chaudhary, Deputy Director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) Buffer Zone, the tigress suddenly collapsed and died in the evening, despite being normal through the day, and following all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the NTCA.

Speaking to PTI, Forest Minister Saxena said the SIT would be headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Lalit Kumar Verma, with Additional PCCF A P Singh and veterinarian Utkarsh Shukla as members.

"The SIT will submit its report at the earliest. Corrective action will be taken if any lapses are found," the minister said.

NTCA Member Secretary Sanjay Kumar Pathak told PTI that the authority has sought a factual report from the state government, including details of compliance with the NTCA's SOPs.

The carcass was sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly to ascertain the exact cause of death, DTR Field Director H Rajamohan told PTI.

IVRI experts, in their preliminary findings after a post-mortem, identified "haemorrhagic gastritis and severe parasitic infestation" as the probable cause of death, Rajamohan said.

The final post-mortem report, including histopathological and toxicological findings, is awaited, he said.

IVRI experts have also indicated that summer stress leading to hyperthermia and capture-related strain could have contributed to the tigress' sudden death, officials said.

The death raised concern among the forest authorities as the tigress was lactating.