Kota: A tiger cub found ailing in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan died during treatment on Tuesday. With this, the reserve has reported deaths of three tigers in the past 23 days.
According to forest officials, the cub was under the observation of doctors ever since its mother -- known as MT 2 -- was killed in a territorial fight with a tiger.
Since MT-2’s death, her cub was under the observation of a team of three doctors. An air-conditioned ICU was set up and the cub was being fed food supplements. However, the cub’s condition deteriorated over the past few days, sources said.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Dr Rajeev Garg, said, "The cub was in shock due to being left alone after his mother's death. It is unfortunate that we could not save the cub. In the post-mortem report, the brain haemorrhage was found and we have also observed the blood clot in the cub's brain."
Alok Gupta, Deputy conservator of forests, Kota said, "He had infections as well as septicemia. He was also completely anaemic. We had formed a team of doctors and were in treatment for 24 hours. Apart from this, CCTV cameras were also monitored and he was being given incentive care treatment. As the symptoms seen in the cub, it was clear that he had a neurological disorder."
Reportedly, the Rajasthan government had suspended assistant forest conservator Rajesh Kumar Sharma and forest ranger Makkhan Lal Sharma two weeks ago after the death of two tigers -- MT-3 and MT-2 within 15 days.
Notably, Mukundra Hills was notified as a tiger reserve in 2013. Spread over an area of about 760 square kilometres covering some parts of Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar and Chittorgarh districts, it was the third tiger reserve after Ranthambore National Park and Sariska.
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