Guwahati: The mutilated carcass of a Royal Bengal tiger was found on a sandbar along the Gabharu River in Assam’s Sonitpur district on Wednesday, prompting an investigation into suspected poaching.
Forest officials stated that the carcass was discovered near Kochgaon, under the jurisdiction of the Thelamara police station; the tiger’s tail and all four paws had been severed.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Biswa Jyoti Das remarked that the condition of the carcass suggested valuable body parts had likely been removed before the remains were dumped into the river.
“It appears the carcass drifted downstream several days after the animal’s death. However, the manner in which the body was mutilated clearly indicates foul play,” Das said.
Following the discovery, teams from the West Sonitpur Forest Division, Tezpur Forest Range, and local police arrived at the scene. Veterinary experts and wildlife officials conducted a post-mortem examination and collected samples for forensic analysis.
Officials reported that the tiger measured approximately five feet in length.
After the examination, the carcass was cremated along the banks of the Gabharu River in accordance with established protocols for the disposal of wildlife remains.
The Forest Department has initiated an investigation and is awaiting the forensic report to ascertain the exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials suspect the animal was killed by poachers who removed valuable body parts before discarding the carcass in the river.
