Bhubaneswar: The melanistic tiger hide seized by Similipal Tiger Reserve authorities on Thursday belongs to a sub-adult male (less than 2 years old) that was hunted close to human habitation, according to Similipal officials on Friday. The revelation came following the interrogation of three persons arrested in connection with the incident.
Details of the Incident
The wildlife authorities disclosed that the tiger had dispersed too close to human settlements and was caught in a snare originally set to trap a wild boar. “After the villagers (tribal) saw the tiger getting ensnared, they took advantage of it and extricated it from the trap after it died. It could be the handiwork of more than three people because taking out the skin from the tiger is not an easy job. Since it is a tiger, even if dead, it requires a skilled hand,” said Similipal field director Prakash Gogineni.
Ongoing Investigation
Further investigation is underway to apprehend more individuals involved in the crime. “We are sure that the tiger was from the Similipal landscape. We can pinpoint with number identification as to which tiger it was once we are able to match the stripes with the database. Since it was a sub-adult tiger, there is also a possibility that we may not have the previous record unless it has been captured in camera trap. Tigers available in the wild are numbered (such as T1, T2) based on their unique stripes,” Gogineni added.
The investigation will also aim to determine when the tiger was last separated from its mother, as tiger cubs typically only disperse and explore new territory after reaching two years of age.
