Mysore/Mysuru: A carcass of a tiger cub, aged about one year, has been found at Kumbalagolli near Masthigudi of D.B. Kuppe Range in Nagarahole Reserve Forest and it is suspected that the tiger cub may have died of injuries during a fight. The Forest staff, who were conducting their regular beat near Kumbalagolli, found the carcass of the tiger cub and informed their higher officers. During the post-mortem conducted by Veterinarian Dr. Ramesh, it was found that the tiger cub had sustained injuries in a fight with another wild animal. The tiger cub’s ribs were found fractured and there were blood clots in the rib cage and the veterinarian opined that the tiger cub had died due to severe bleeding.

As per the guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the carcass was burnt in the presence of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Director Harshakumar Chikkanaragunda, Metikuppe Wildlife Sub-Division Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) K.N. Rangaswamy, D.B. Kuppe Range Forest Officer (RFO) K.L. Madhu, NTCA representative Divya Chowdhary, Masthigudi Deputy RFO R. Pramod and staff Umesh Nayak and others.

Was the tiger cub born to Backwater Female?

It is suspected that the dead tiger cub was born to Kabini Backwater Female. The Kabini Backwater Female, which had four cubs, was seriously injured and had killed a youth. It was seen limping and moving near Masthigudi and after the Forest officials confirmed that its health condition was worsening, they captured the tigress and shifted it to the rehabilitation centre at Koorgalli in Mysuru where it is currently being treated.

Separated from its mother, the cubs had not learnt to hunt and it is suspected that the male cub in a bid to hunt on its own may have sustained injuries and died.

The Forest officials have been urged to conduct a combing operation for the safety of the other three cubs.