BHOPAL: A tiger was found dead on the roadside in MP's Panna district on Thursday morning. This is the 17th tiger death this year.
It was identified as P-111, a 13-year-old tiger born in the first litter to tiger . Officials said that they were alerted by villagers who saw the carcass lying near the Akola gate of Panna Tiger Reserve.
Locals had seen the tiger crossing the road shortly prior to ts death. Officers said its organs are intact and cause of death has not been ascertained. Viscera samples have been preserved for virology and toxicology tests.
This is the second tiger death on Panna-Katni Highway. A cub was killed in a hit and run last year.
11 tigers have died within reserves, 6 found dead outside
Tiger State’ Madhya Pradesh has been hit by a string of big cat deaths this year. Sources say 11 tigers have died within reserves, and six were found dead outside, including one run over by a vehicle.
Many of the tigers were killed in territorial fights, including five in a two-week period in March-April.
The last recorded tiger death prior to Thursday’s was in Bandhavgarh on April 28. The carcass of a five-year-old tigress was found at Dhamokar range. Officials had ruled out poaching as all its body organs were intact.
Four days prior, a tigress was found dead near Dhamokar buffer area.
There were horrific injuries all over its body – including the skull, abdomen and limbs. They suspect that the tigress was killed by an adult male over territorial supremacy.
