A bone of one of the big cats was found in a house at Devala

The tiger count of the nation has gone down by two. Death of these two big cats has been reported in the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). While a tigress died late on Thursday evening, forest officials recovered bones of another animal four days back.

A full-grown tigress was found dead near Bhanuskhindi in the reserve. "Circumstantial evidence indicates that it is a natural death. The tigress was around 14 years old and starved to death. Poaching can be ruled out as the carcass is intact," said Sheshrao Patil, chief conservator of forest and field director, TATR.

According to sources, on February 21, forest officials received information that tiger bones were spotted in compartment number 163 of Moharli range of the reserve. "Our volunteers in the area got information about death of a tiger. It was immediately forwarded to the forest department," said Nitin Desai, central India director of Wildlife Protection Society of India.

A team of forest officials visited the spot and recovered tiger bones and a part of the animal's skin. "Given the shape of pelvis girder, the bones appear to be that of a tigress. However, only a forensic test can confirm this," said Desai.

Sources said it was revenge killing. The tiger had killed a bullock belonging to Ragho Kulmethe, 50, a resident of Devala village. Kulmethe poisoned the bullock carcass resulting in death of the tiger after it consumed the kill a second time. When the animal died, it was skinned and cut into pieces.

Forest officials raided Kulmethe's house and recovered a tiger bone. When Kulmethe was being taken to Tadoba after arrest, villagers forced forest officials to release him.

However, Patil ruled out the possibility of revenge killing. "The animal must have died about two months back. We are investigating the matter," he said.

Harshawardhan Dhanvate of Tiger Research and Conservation Trust, a Nagpur-based NGO, said: "The threat of poaching of large carnivores needs to be addressed more seriously. Loss of each tiger makes a difference to the sustainability of the species, especially from protected areas which are considered as the production house for tigers and leopards."

Ashwin Aghor/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication