Madhya Pradesh: Tiger found dead, electrocution by poachers suspected

The carcass of a tiger was found on Monday in the Ghunghuti area of the district with forest officials suspecting the role of poachers in the death.

Forest Department's Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Rahul Mishra said, "The body of a tiger, apparently an adult, was found at the foothills of a hillock under Kachnar beat of Ghumghuti forest range. The condition of the carcass suggests the tiger has killed two-three days ago."

He said that while the carcass had been secured, forest rules forbade anyone to touch it till the dog squad arrived, in this case from Jabalpur, to help in investigations.

"Therefore it is difficult to tell whether the carcass is of a tiger or a tigress. We suspect the tiger fell victim to a live electric trap laid by poachers," Mishra said.

This is the second suspicious death of a tiger in the last few days in the Ghunghuti range which serves as the buffer zone of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

On December 3, the carcass of a tiger, aged around four years, was found at Arjuni beat (Dhauri) under Ghunghutirange. That tiger was also a victim of a live electric trap laid by poachers, officials said.