Nagpur/Bhandara: A dead tigress was discovered on January 6, 2025, near the dam of Teen Puliya Lake in compartment number 74B RF of the Tumsar forest range, falling under the Bhandara Forest Division.

Upon receiving information, forest officials and staff rushed to the scene and initiated action following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). A committee was formed, including veterinary experts, to investigate the incident.

Prominent officials present during the investigation included NTCA representative Anil Dashare, honorary wildlife warden for Bhandara district, Pankaj Deshmukh, and Shahid Khan of SEAT, a voluntary organization.

Post-Mortem Conducted; Cause of Death Unknown:

A veterinary team comprising Dr. Barapatre from Nakadongri, Dr. Shubham Thorat from Hardoli, Dr. Kalpana Gaikwad (Assistant Commissioner of Animal Husbandry), Dr. Ashish Gatkal from Sihora, and Dr. Meghraj Tulavi from Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Project performed the post-mortem. The deceased tigress, identified as a three-year-old adult female, had all its body parts intact.

However, the cause of death remains unclear. Samples from the tigress’s body have been collected and will be sent to a laboratory for further analysis.

Legal Action and Investigation:

A forest crime case has been registered, and further investigation is underway under the guidance of Rahul Gawai, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bhandara. The inquiry is being carried out by Forest Extraction Officer Ritesh Bhongade and Forest Range Officer Rahangdale from Tumsar.

Following SOP protocols, the tiger’s remains were cremated after the post-mortem.