Another tiger found dead in Bandhavgarh reserve

Bagish K Jha, TNN Mar 14, 2012, 06.55AM INDORE: A one-year-old tiger was found dead at the Magadi Gate of Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve on Tuesday morning. The young feline is prima facie believed to be the victim of turf war, but poaching has yet to be officially ruled out . "A tiger was found dead on main road near Magadi Gate which is also known as Gate no. 2 of Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve Forest. It appears to have been killed in a territorial fight with another," said former minister and member of Wildlife Board Pushparaj Singh, adding that seven to eight tigers have been reportedly killed there in the last one year alone. The range officer of Bandhavgarh confirmed the tiger's death declined comment, saying senior officers were investigating the death. The park's field director C K Patil has left for the spot to take stock. Sources said that the carcass was spotted by some foreign tourists and their guide in the morning, who informed forest officials. The officials took away the body and are trying to ascertain the exact cause of death. Singh said a tigress and her two cubs were known to reside in that area, and it was possible that the dead one was killed by his stronger elder sibling. "Turf wars are not uncommon, but the spiraling number of deaths like these is alarming. It indicates there is not enough land available for the tigers to survive," he said, adding that the tiger reserve is spread over 1168 square kilometre but has only 105 square kilometre of core tiger habitat. A recent forest survey had also underlined that while Bandhavgarh has around 48 tigers, there is not enough land extent for them which often lead to fatal turf battles.Over the last one-and-half year many tigers have perished that way. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-14/indore/31164972_1_tiger-reserve-forest-c-k-patil-bandhavgarh-reserve