A tigress was found dead in Thekkady Lake on Wednesday.
The forest area adjoining the lake is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The carcass of the nearly three-year-old animal was found floating in the lake. No external injuries could be seen on the body, officials said.
A team of experts including K.K. Ramachandran, Head of the Wildlife Biology Department of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, two veterinarians of the Kerala State Forest Department and a local veterinarian, had inspected the carcass.
Experts suspect disease as the cause of death. Toxicology studies will be held on samples from the carcass. The exact cause of death could be ascertained only after obtaining post mortem report. The carcass will be burned after completing the mandatory steps, officials said.
A young animal in its prime. Sounds like probable poisoning to me - poisoned animals, in their agony, usually feel extremely thirsty, and go to waterholes where they die.
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