Chandrapur: A sub-adult tigress was found dead in a farm adjoining the forest near Bardkinhi, around 25 km from Brahmapuri, on Saturday evening. Forest officials suspect that the tigress may have died following a territorial fight with an adult tiger.The carcass was found in a private farm near the Chichkheda compartment of the North Brahmapuri forest range. The farmer alerted the forest department, following which officials and staff reached the spot.The big cat’s major body parts were intact, but its rear portion had been eaten away. This made it difficult to immediately determine its gender. Officials suspect that the fight may have taken place late at night.No other tigers were spotted in the vicinity, though pugmarks were found near the site. As it was already dark, the carcass was shifted to the Brahmapuri divisional forest office. A post-mortem examination was conducted on Sunday morning.The incident occurred in a landscape that regularly records movement of tigers. The Brahmapuri forest division covers around 1,080 sq km across the Sindewahi, South Brahmapuri, North Brahmapuri and Talodhi ranges.Available forest department estimates put the Brahmapuri forest division’s big cat population at around 57 adult tigers, 22 sub-adults and 22 cubs, besides nearly 100 leopards. The area has witnessed several instances of encounters between wild animals in recent years.
