Uttar Pradesh forms SIT to probe tigress death in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

A three-member special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the death of a tigress in the buffer zone of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh. State Forest Minister Arun Kumar Saxena announced the formation of the SIT on Monday, stating that it will examine the circumstances surrounding the tigress's sudden demise.

The SIT is headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Lalit Kumar Verma, and includes Additional PCCF A.P. Singh and veterinarian Utkarsh Shukla as members. The team will submit its report at the earliest, and corrective action will be taken if any lapses are found, the minister said.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the apex body overseeing Project Tiger, has also sought a detailed report from the state government, including compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the NTCA. NTCA Member Secretary Sanjay Kumar Pathak confirmed that the authority has requested a factual report on the incident.

The tigress was captured alive on the morning of June 23 after a week-long operation by forest officials. It had been suspected of killing two people in the Ramnagar area of the Majhgain range: 60-year-old farmer Matadin on June 14 and 40-year-old Kokila on June 15. According to forest officials, the big cat had been tranquillised and recovered within minutes while still in the cage. A medical examination declared the tigress fit to be released back into the forest.

However, Deputy Director of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Buffer Zone, Kirti Chaudhary, said the tigress suddenly collapsed and died in the evening, despite appearing normal throughout the day and following all NTCA-prescribed SOPs.

The carcass was sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly for post-mortem. IVRI experts, in their preliminary findings, identified "haemorrhagic gastritis and severe parasitic infestation" as the probable cause of death, according to DTR Field Director H Rajamohan. He added that the final post-mortem report, including histopathological and toxicological findings, is awaited. Officials also said that IVRI experts indicated that summer stress leading to hyperthermia and capture-related strain could have contributed to the tigress's sudden death.

The death has raised concern among forest authorities as the tigress was lactating. The SIT will investigate whether any SOP violations occurred during the capture, transport, or medical evaluation of the animal.