A mutilated carcass of a Royal Bengal Tiger was recovered from a sandbar along the Gabharu River in Assam's Sonitpur district, prompting forest authorities to launch an investigation into suspected poaching.
The carcass was found near Kochgaon under Thelamara Police Station limits on Thursday. Forest officials said the tiger's tail and all four legs had been severed, raising concerns that the animal may have been killed for its body parts.
Divisional Forest Officer Biswa Jyoti Das said preliminary findings suggested the carcass had been dumped in the river after valuable parts were removed.
“The carcass seems to have drifted downstream several days after the animal's death. However, the manner in which the body was mutilated strongly suggests foul play,” Das said.
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Following the discovery, personnel from the West Sonitpur Forest Division, Tezpur Forest Range and local police reached the site and launched an investigation.
Veterinary experts and wildlife officials conducted a post-mortem examination and collected samples for forensic analysis. Authorities said the report would help determine the exact cause of death and establish whether the tiger had been poached.
Officials estimated the animal measured around five feet in length. After the examination was completed, the carcass was cremated on the banks of the Gabharu River in accordance with wildlife disposal protocols.
Forest department officials suspect poachers may have killed the tiger, removed valuable body parts and disposed of the remains in the river in an attempt to destroy evidence.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over wildlife crime in Assam, which is home to several protected forests and national parks that support tiger populations and other endangered species.
Authorities said investigations are continuing and further action will depend on the findings of the forensic examination.
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