A day after the death of the tiger, which killed two people in Ramnagar's Bailpadav forest range, it is being suspected that the big cat may have died due to an?overdose of anaesthesia and injuries that it sustained while being captured.
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Clearing the air over rumours, Terai-West circle forest conservator Parag Madhukar Dhakate said, "The postmortem does not indicate death due to deep injury marks caused by JCB machine. The report said that the reason of its death could either be septicaemia caused by injuries suffered during territorial infighting or asphyxiation. We have already formed a team to conduct internal inquiry regarding the possibilities that could have led to its death."
A few activists, who had taken videos of the feline being captured, alleged that the tiger could have died because of the injuries suffered while being captured and firing too many tranquillizer darts.
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A wildlife activist, who wished not to be named, said, "The tiger was captured using heavy duty JCB machine, which might have hurt the animal. Also, the tranquillizers used too many darts to render the animal unconscious. Although the feline revived, but something definitely went wrong. An animal, who received multiple injuries and was starving for more than 15 days, cannot die immediately after being captured."
The death of the big cat makes it the fifth recorded death of a tiger in the hill state this year due to causes ranging from territorial fights to alleged poisoning.