Assam's Kaziranga Tiger Reserve Mourns Loss of Three Royal Bengal Tigers Amid Territorial Clashes
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In a disturbing series of events, three Royal Bengal tigers have been found dead in Assam's Kaziranga Tiger Reserve between January 4 and January 18. The preliminary findings suggest infighting as the cause of death, a common occurrence in high-density tiger habitats. According to officials, the first incident occurred on January 4, when a female tiger's carcass was discovered in the Paschim Bimoli area of the reserve's Western Range. A post-mortem examination revealed that the tiger died due to infighting. Ten days later, a two to three-year-old Royal Bengal tiger was found dead at Thute Chapori in the Eastern Range. While the veterinary officers' initial examination suggested a possible natural death or infighting, further investigation is required to confirm the cause. On January 18, the carcass of another female tiger was recovered from the Kathpora area of the Western Range. The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve director, Sonali Ghosh, has constituted a committee to conduct the post-mortem and dispose of the carcass in accordance with NTCA guidelines. Ghosh emphasized that territorial clashes among tigers are a common occurrence in areas with a strong and expanding tiger population. She stated that infighting mainly occurs due to territorial expansion and dominance behavior, which is considered a natural phenomenon. Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is home to 148 Royal Bengal tigers, as per the latest tiger estimation conducted last year. The reserve's director has assured that necessary measures will be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the remaining tigers in the reserve.
