Tiger Found Dead In Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve, Second To Die In The State In A Week

A tiger was found dead in the core area of Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve, an official said on Saturday. The carcass was recovered on Friday, he said.

"Our patrolling party found the dead feline, aged around 13 years, in the Gumtara Range of the tiger reserve," its field director Vikram Singh Parihar said.

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The body parts of the animal were found intact, he said. After the post-mortem, its carcass was disposed of, he said. The tiger's viscera has been sent for testing to ascertain the cause of the death.

Pench National Park, situated in Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh is one of the most popular national parks in the state and an important habitat for India's national animal.

The big cat was found dead just days after another tigress was killed in the state.

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The nearly two-year-old tigress was found dead on Tuesday by some beat guards in Khapa forest range of the Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR).

According to Forest Officials, the tigress has died after getting stuck in a wire trap allegedly laid by poachers.

"The tigress died after getting entangled in a wire trap used by poachers," a forest official said.

Forest Department registered a case under Sections 9, 51 and 52 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 against six men who were allegedly involved in laying the trap.

According to the 2018 tiger census, Madhya Pradesh is home to highest number of tigers in the country, giving it the tag of "tiger state".

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According to data from 2019, KTR is home to 140 tigers, making it one of the most important protected areas for India's national animal.

Pench reserve has 411 sq km of core forest area and 768 sq km of buffer area that¡¯s spread across nine ranges is home to around 60 tigers.

BCCL/ representational image

The results of the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation - 2018 showed that Pench Tiger Reserve, had scored the highest and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu showing the highest increment in management since the last cycle.