Assam – The carcass of an adult female tiger has been discovered inside Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) in Assam, officials confirmed on Monday.
Forest guards on routine patrol located the remains on Sunday evening in the Kathpora area of the Bagori range, situated in the western part of the park. Following the discovery, the park authorities formed a committee to conduct a post-mortem and oversee the disposal of the carcass in line with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocols.
Preliminary examination suggests the tiger may have died due to infighting, a phenomenon not uncommon among the solitary big cats. “Initial findings point to territorial conflict as the cause of death,” a senior forest official said.
This marks the third tiger death linked to infighting in Kaziranga within the past five months. Earlier this month, another female Royal Bengal tiger was found dead under similar circumstances. In August last year, two tiger carcasses were recovered—one attributed to old age and the other to territorial combat.
Kaziranga, globally renowned as the stronghold of the one-horned rhinoceros, also sustains a thriving tiger population. The reserve recorded 148 tigers in 2024, with a notable density of 18.65 tigers per 100 square kilometres, among the highest in the country.
Officials explained that such clashes are part of natural tiger behaviour. “Tigers are solitary animals. Territorial disputes often escalate into fights, and fatalities are not unusual,” the official added.
