A large male tiger aged around 10 years was found dead in the Hediyala range of Bandipur National Park on Monday.
The authorities have ruled out foul play and attribute the death to territorial fight between two males. The death is suspected to have taken place around two days ago, according to Naveen Kumar, honorary wildlife warden.
The tiger’s carcass was found close to the Beladakuppe temple in the core area of the national park and the animal had deep gnash and bite marks on its neck besides the mouth while its tongue was dismembered.
Veterinarian V. Nagaraj, who conducted the post mortem, said though the tiger was massive in size the incisors and two canines had worn out due to old age and hence it was no match for the new dominant and younger male, which has established its suzerainty in the territory.
The claws and the skin were intact though decomposition had set in and there were sufficient evidence at the spot of a territorial fight with blood spattered in the vicinity. Tigers have a life span of around 12 years in the wild.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Jagatram, ACF Poovaiah, wildlife warden Naveen Kumar and others visited the spot. The carcass of the tiger was burnt and disposed off as per National Tiger Conservation Authority norms after conducting the post-mortem.
