What Happened to the Seven-Month-Old Tiger Cub Found in Pench Tiger Reserve?
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Synopsis
A seven-month-old female tiger cub tragically passed away in Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve. Discover the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event and its implications for wildlife conservation.
Key Takeaways
- Seven-month-old tiger cub found dead in Pench Tiger Reserve.
- Efforts to revive the cub were unsuccessful.
- Investigation initiated to determine the cause of death.
- Pench is home to a significant tiger population.
- Wildlife conservation efforts are crucial for species protection.
Bhopal, April 30 (NationPress) A seven-month-old female tiger cub was discovered deceased in the Bison beat region of the Karmajhiri range within Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve, according to officials.
The cub was found unresponsive by the reserve's elephant patrol team, alongside her protective mother, on Sunday, but sadly passed away on Monday evening, as reported by officials.
The patrol team's struggle to approach the cub due to the tigress’s defensive nature led the Forest Department to deploy an elephant team to keep the tigress at a distance. Despite extensive efforts to revive the cub, including bringing in veterinarians, the cub could not be saved.
"The cub was located by our elephant patrolling party on Sunday morning. It was shivering and exhibited signs of paralysis in its hind limbs only... the front limbs were trembling, as seen in cases of rigor mortis. Regrettably, despite our attempts to resuscitate it, the cub succumbed later on Monday evening," stated Pench Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Rajnish Singh to IANS.
The gravity of the situation prompted the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) to take immediate action, ensuring that a thorough investigation was initiated. Wildlife veterinarians performed a post-mortem at the scene, collecting samples for scientific analysis to determine the precise cause of death.
The remains have since been sent to Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur for further investigation to ascertain if the cause was due to injury or illness, an official confirmed.
Pench Tiger Reserve, which spans the boundaries of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, is renowned not only for its robust tiger population but also for its rich biodiversity, including leopards, wild boars, nilgai, and a variety of bird species. According to the 2022 census, the reserve housed an impressive 123 tigers, highlighting its significance as a conservation area. Often dubbed "Mowgli Land," the reserve draws inspiration from Rudyard Kipling's iconic character from his classic tale, "The Jungle Book".
Pench is also noted for its legendary tigress, ‘Collar-wali,’ who passed away from natural causes in 2022 after an extraordinary record of birthing 32 cubs over 14 years.
Point of View
Ensuring that such incidents are minimized in the future.
NationPress
26/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the death of the tiger cub?
The exact cause of the tiger cub's death is still under investigation, with samples collected for scientific analysis.
What actions were taken after the cub was found?
Wildlife veterinarians conducted a post-mortem, and the remains were sent to Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University for further examination.
How many tigers are in Pench Tiger Reserve?
As per the 2022 census, Pench Tiger Reserve is home to 123 tigers.
What is Pench Tiger Reserve known for?
It is celebrated for its tiger population and diverse wildlife, including leopards and various bird species.
Who was 'Collar-wali'?
Collar-wali was a renowned tigress who had a record of delivering 32 cubs over 14 years before her passing in 2022.
