Tiger found dead in private tea garden at Udhagamandalam

Forest officials examine the tiger carcass at Nanjanad, near Udhagamandalamon Tuesday. Photo: Special Arrangement

A tiger was found dead in a private tea garden at Nanjanad, about a km away from the Ithalar reserve forest, according to the District Forest Officer, The Nilgiris South, B. Sugirtharaj Kovilpillai.

Late in the evening on Monday the department was informed by the villagers that the carcass was lying among the tea bushes.

Stating that it was that of a male aged about ten years, Mr. Kovilpillai told

The Hindu that a post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday by forest veterinarian Vijayaraghavan in the presence of conservationists from The Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association (NWLEA).

It revealed that its last meal was a wild boar and it had suffered a crack on its nasal bone. There were no other injuries.

It indicated that it had died in a fight with a wild boar or another tiger.

Since the carcass was partly decomposed it was presumed that it had died four or five days ago.

After adhering to all the formalities the carcass was set ablaze near the spot it was found.