Negligence cited in latest death of tiger at Sariska reserve in Alwar

Jaipur: Famous tiger of Sariska tiger reserve – popularly known as ST-4 – died on Sunday. This is the tiger death in Sariska reserve in the last ten months. The tiger had been injured in a territorial fight with ST-6 a few weeks ago. ST-4 was kept in an enclosure after the fight but he died allegedly of hunger on Sunday morning.

According to sources, Tiger ST-4 died due to the negligence of the forest officials at Sariska. The tiger had both his legs fractured during the fight with ST-6 rendering him incapable of hunting. The forest team, rather than giving him ready flesh, tied a buffalo in his enclosure.

Wounded Tiger ST-4 couldn’t kill the buffalo due to his injuries and died of hunger.

Senior Sariska officials confirmed that the tiger has died due to hunger and cold, as per his medical reports.

The tiger ST-4 was brought from Ranthambore to Sariska on July 20, 2010. He was the only adult tiger in Sariska at that time.

The Sariska Tiger Reserve of Rajasthan is left with only three male tigers now including Tigress ST-6, ST-13 and ST-15.

Tigress ST-5 and tiger ST-11 were poached in February 2018 and March 2018 respectively.
Wildlife experts accused reserve authorities of negligence.

They said that the authorities didn’t treat the tiger properly after he was injured in the territorial fight. The forest department did not provide him ready flesh to eat, rather they left a buffalo in his closure.
The tiger was unable to kill the buffalo due to his injuries and died of hunger and cold on Sunday. The forest caretakers and doctors did not check on the health of Tiger ST-4 after November 14.