A tragic incident has struck the wildlife community in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district. The lifeless body of a full-grown tiger was discovered on Saturday morning along the bank of the Wardha river. The location was near Naygaon village, adjacent to an opencast mine within the Wani forest range.
Discovery and Initial Investigation
Range Forest Officer Sujata Veerkar reported that the carcass was first spotted around 8:45 AM. Upon receiving the alert, forest department personnel swiftly arrived at the site to confirm the death. An immediate, on-site autopsy was conducted, which provided crucial preliminary findings.
The veterinary examination revealed multiple fractures on the tiger's body. Based on the nature of these injuries, officials strongly suspect that the big cat was a victim of a hit-and-run incident involving a heavy vehicle. The road near the discovery site, the Wani-Ghugghus road, is likely where the collision occurred.
High-Level Response and Official Proceedings
The gravity of the situation prompted a visit from senior officials to the spot. The team included Chief Conservator of Forests, Yavatmal, Kishor Mankar, and Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pandharkawada division, Yashwant Bahale. They were accompanied by Assistant Conservator Vishal Chavan, other wildlife experts, police personnel, a veterinary doctor, and a representative from the Wildlife Institute of India.
This group supervised the proceedings to ensure protocol was followed. In a decisive legal step, the forest department has registered a forest offence case related to the tiger's death. Following all necessary examinations, the tiger's remains were incinerated as per the strict guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
A Disturbing Pattern and Ongoing Probe
This event has raised serious concerns as it represents the third instance of an unnatural tiger death recorded in Yavatmal district so far. The repeated occurrences highlight the growing threats to wildlife in areas intersecting human activity and industrial zones like mines.
Forest officials have stated that the investigation is very much active. The primary focus now is to trace the heavy vehicle responsible for the hit-and-run and fix accountability for the death of the protected animal. The search for the culprit vehicle is underway.
