3.9.2008

Sadly the famed Guda tigress at Ranthambhore was found dead yesterday. The park staff is now desperately searching for her two cubs, who are less than a year old. Another tigress appears to be moving about in the area and up to this evening there was no sign of the cubs.

In the Sunderbans, a large male tiger has been repeatedly entering the two adjoining villages of Jamespur and Annepur, killing a cow and a number of goats. The tiger returned to the village last night - his third night in succession - and early this morning was trapped by a Forest Department team who have been camping near Jamespur, along with WPSI's field officer. The tiger appears to have some injuries. A Department veterinary team is on its way to treat the tiger, after which it is hoped that he will be released.

Belinda Wright

 
Indo-Asian News Service

Jaipur, Sep 2 (IANS) An eight-year-old tigress has been found dead in the Ranthambore national park in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, a forest official said Tuesday.

The carcass of the tigress, that had two cubs aged between eight and 11 months, was found in a mutilated condition Monday.

"Preliminary investigations suggest that the tigress must have died two or three days ago in a fight with another wild cat over territory," a forest official said, adding that cause of death could only be ascertained after an autopsy.

Ranthambore National Park, about 175 km from here, covers an area of around 400 sq km. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and got the status of a national park in 1981.

As per a 2007 census, the tiger population in the park has increased to 32 from 26 in 2005. This number does not include cubs, which are estimated to be around 14. This increase in population has resulted in increasing clashes between tigers over territories.

Tigers are territorial and fiercely defensive. A tigress may have a territory of 20 sq km while the territories of males are much larger, covering 40 to 80 sq km. However, territory varies from forest to forest, depending on the ecology of that area. Male territories may overlap those of many females, but males are intolerant of other tigers within their territory.