A rare melanistic tiger was found dead in the core area of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) area, the Forest and Environment Development department said on May 1.
It attributed the death to infighting among male tigers which fiercely clash to defend their territory. The melanistic tiger is rarely found in the wild. A team of National Tiger Conservation Authority will investigate the circumstances under which the tiger died.
The STR first reported the presence of melanistic tigers in 2007. The 2016 tiger census revealed six such tigers in the reserve.
