With rise in population, tigers in KTR fighting for space
| Date :16-Apr-2019 |
By Ankita Garg:
Five tigers died at Kanha Tiger Reserve within three months n Reason for the five deaths is territorial fight n In all the five cases, half body parts were eaten up by the tiger
Rising population of tigers in Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) is resulting into increasing territorial fights and ultimately death of tigers. After crossing the figure of 80 tigers in the reserve, territorial fight cases have been rising. Death of five tigers in territorial fight within three months in the same reserve put the forest officials on toes. Authorities of Madhya Pradesh Forest Department’s Wildlife Wing have started researching the five cases to avoid such situation in future. Talking about the death of tigers at Kanha Tiger Reserve, forest officials said that only two tigers have killed five different tigers in three months and also ate up half part of the body.
They said it is a natural process and no one can change this. Officials of Wildlife Wing claimed that there more than 80 tigers in Kanha Tiger Reserve and this could be reason behind the territorial fight. They said there is no solution of this problem as it is common among big cats. Field Director of Kanha Tiger Reserve L Krishnamurthy said “The cubs were killed and eaten by male tiger. It is a common behaviour in tigers and usually tigress kills the weak cubs. In some case, male tiger kill the cubs after being involved in territorial fight with the tigress.” He said that normally a tiger demarcates twelve square kilometre of his territory and do not allow rival to enter. When other tiger enters the area, they fight for dominance with to retain the region. In this fight, weaker tiger is pushed out of the periphery or killed by the stronger one. On March 22, tiger T-56 killed another tiger and also ate half part of body. The incident took place in Magarnala beat under Kisli range of the reserve. Patrolling the area, field staff spotted the carcass of tiger and immediately informed senior officials.
Senior authorities reached the spot and took the carcass in custody. This was the third incident in Kanha National Park within three months when tiger has died in territorial fight. On February 26, two semi-adult cubs were killed by an adult male tiger at the reserve. The patrolling team in the area spotted carcass of the cubs and they immediately informed to the officials. The team tried to recover the carcass of cubs but it failed to do so as the adult tiger was sitting there for hours. However, experts’ team collected the carcass on next day and autopsy suggested that the cubs were killed with the attack of adult tiger. There were scratches and marks on the body of cubs. The carcass was almost halt-eaten and cremation was conducted as per the guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority .On January 5, a four-year-old tigress was found dead in Kisli area of Kanha Tiger Reserve to the patrolling team. Autopsy suggested that the tigress have died in territorial fight with a male tiger. While probing the case, team found marks which proved that tigress has entered into fight with a male tiger. Officials of Kanha Tiger Reserve said that there were no suspected proof around the carcass was found. In the neck and other body parts of tigress, canine and nail scratches were found which proved that she died after fighting with another big cat. Half of the carcass was ate up by the male tiger.
Wildlife experts said that such cases happen when any particular area has higher number of big cats as compared to the capacity. They said that reason behind rising territorial fight among big cats can be lack of food on conserved area, population increase in number of tigers in particular area, reducing hidden place in lack of water and meeting with tigress roaming with cubs. Sources said that after touching the figure of 80 tigers, situation of territorial fight arises. During year 1999-2004, Kanha Tiger Reserve had 130 tigers and at the time there were no such case.