Second Tiger Found Dead in NSTR Within Three Days
Officials said the tiger is believed to have died around 10 days ago
TIRUPATI: An adult tiger was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Racharla Forest Beat of the Gundlakamma Range in Markapuram district, part of the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), on Friday, prompting an investigation into the cause of its death.
The carcass was found with its limbs severed and claws missing, leading forest officials to probe whether the tiger died of natural causes or was a victim of poaching or poisoning.
The death comes just two days after a tigress was found dead in the Nandikotkur Reserved Forest in Nandyal district, making it the second tiger death reported from the reserve within three days.
According to forest officials, the carcass was spotted at Tettamadugu by the Racharla beat officer during routine patrolling. Deputy director, Project Tiger Division, Giddalur, Nisha Kumari, along with wildlife veterinarians from Srisailam, visited the site and examined the carcass.
Officials said the tiger is believed to have died around 10 days ago. The carcass was in an advanced stage of decomposition, and investigators are examining whether its limbs and claws were removed after death. They said the tiger's age would be determined after the postmortem and detailed examination.
Forest officials are also investigating whether the animal consumed water allegedly laced with urea by poachers targeting herbivores such as deer and antelope. A sniffer dog was deployed to search the area for evidence.
An offence has been registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Nisha Kumari said the exact cause of death was yet to be established.
"A postmortem was conducted in accordance with the National Tiger Conservation Authority's standard operating procedures, and samples have been collected for forensic examination," she said, adding that the investigation was progressing on all possible angles.
Reacting to the incident, Deputy Chief Minister and forest minister K. Pawan Kalyan described the death of even a single tiger as a matter of serious concern and directed the NSTR field director to conduct a comprehensive inquiry to ascertain whether the animal died due to natural causes, poaching, poisoning or any other human intervention.
He also instructed forest officials to intensify patrolling and strengthen field surveillance across the reserve, warning that strict action would be taken if the inquiry established negligence or illegal activity.