Rare Melanistic Tiger Found Dead In Odisha's Similipal
NDTV
The exact reason for the tiger's death is yet to be known, but it is suspected that it died during a fight with another big cat, said an official.
The carcass of a rare melanistic tiger was found in the core area of Similipal National Park in Odisha, a senior forest official said. It was spotted by the Similipal south division staff at Badamakkabadi-ll beat area in Nawana, said Sushil Kumar Popli, the principal chief conservator of forests.
The exact reason for the death of the three-and-half-year-old male tiger is yet to be known, but it is suspected that the animal died during a fight with another big cat, he said on Monday.
The tiger's carcass bore scratch marks, which is indicative of a fatal fight, a forest official said.
Mr Popli said that tigers after attaining three years of age mark out their own territory in the forest for which they often fight with other tigers.
