Advertisement

Updated November 9th, 2018 at 18:55 IST

Tigress Avni had not eaten for 4-5 days: Necropsy report

Tigress Avni died due to excessive internal haemorrhage and cardio-respiratory failure and her stomach and intestines were filled with fluid and gas, indicating she had not hunted or eaten for 4-5 days, according to a provisional necropsy report.

| Image:self
Advertisement

Tigress Avni died due to excessive internal haemorrhage and cardio-respiratory failure and her stomach and intestines were filled with fluid and gas, indicating she had not hunted or eaten for 4-5 days, according to a provisional necropsy report.

READ| Tigress Avni Killing: 'Maneka Gandhi Unaware Of What Happened; We Would Have Killed Avni Two Months Ago If That Was The Intention', Says Maharashtra Forest Minister

The tigress, who was believed to have turned man-eater and killed 13 people in the last two years in Yavatmal district's Pandharkawda area, was shot dead in Borati forest there last Friday.

The examination, conducted by veterinarians of various institutions, has also revealed that two "major" parts of the bullet, used to kill the 119 kg tigress, were observed and that it died due to excessive internal haemorrhage and cardio-respiratory failure.

Explaining the contents of the report, a wildlife expert said, "Observation of fluid and gas, without any solid content, means that the tigress had not hunted or eaten for about 4-5 days. However, it is commonly observed in large cats that they eat 25-30 kg meat on a single day and do not eat for 7 days at a stretch."

The necropsy report states that a circular punctured wound on the skin of 0.5 cm diameter on left thoracic region was found and that the gunshot was fired from below the left scapular caudal angle.

Explaining the report, the wildlife expert said the shot was fired from the left side of the chest and hit the scapula (shoulder bone) near the shoulder and punctured the lungs.

Interestingly, the report further says a dart on the middle of the left thigh cranially was observed and that 5 ml capacity plastic dart with stabilisers and 1.5 inch collared needle "placed subcutaneously" was observed.

It added that fascia (connective tissue underneath the skin) beneath the darted needle was intact.

The wildlife expert said, ideally, the dart should have pierced the muscular region so that the tranquilising fluid can be absorbed by the blood.

"However, the report indicates that the dart did not even pierce through fascia (in between muscle and skin), which does not have blood supply, and just punctured the skin," the expert said.

The killing of T1, as the tigress was officially known, led to outrage among animal lovers and wildlife organisations. 

Union minister Maneka Gandhi had lashed out at the Maharashtra government and had dubbed it a "ghastly murder".

READ| WATCH: 'Tigress Avni Was A Problem. Maharashtra Has An Overpopulation Of Tigers', Says Shooter's Father Shafat Ali Khan Stating His Version Of Events

The Maharashtra government, however, defended itself calling the incident "sad" but necessary after the tigress attacked forest staff trying to tranquilise it.

Avni was the mother of two 10-month-old cubs.

Advertisement

Published November 9th, 2018 at 17:59 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Zomato delivery boy in tears over blocked account
3 minutes ago
Congress Press Conference
4 minutes ago
L&T Shipbuilding facility
11 minutes ago
RCB vs KKR
12 minutes ago
Pooja Vastrakar
13 minutes ago
Crew posters
38 minutes ago
Big Communication Gap Within the Congress: Sanjay Nirupam Targets Party Leadership | EXCLUSIVE
39 minutes ago
VST Tillers Tractors
39 minutes ago
High-net-worth women show a nuanced approach to wealth with interest in alternative investments and cautious risk tolerance.
39 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo