Tiger Mahavir died of multi organ failure: Post mortem report

Angul: The death of male tiger Mahavir (also known as MB-2) in the core area of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve was due to multiple organ failure following the wound on his neck, said senior forest officials quoting the post mortem report.

Satkosia Tiger Reserve field director, Sudarshan Panda today informed that “As per the post-mortem report, the tiger died of multiple organ failure due to the wound on his neck. Moreover, around eight to ten porcupine quills were recovered from the tiger’s stomach along with traces of wild boar hair from stool samples.”

Panda further informed that no traces of wire around the neck region of the tiger were found while some tissues and other organs have been sent for further examination to several laboratories.

“Once all the reports come, a final report to ascertain the exact cause behind the death of the tiger can be prepared,” Panda added.

It is pertinent to mention here that Mahavir (MB-2), the Royal Bengal Tiger was translocated from Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh to Satkosia in June. The tiger was found dead in the core area of the reserve on November 14.

The tiger was found dead 500 meters from Raigoda-Nuagada forest road inside the Nuagada forest reserve of Athagarh forest division. Initially, the forest officials had claimed that deep laceration and a five-day-old maggot-infected wound was observed in the dorsal neck region of the tiger which may have been the cause of death.

Following the death of Mahavir, a team comprising National Tiger Conservation Authority IG, Amit Malik and Wildlife Institute of India researcher K Ramesh had visited Odisha to ascertain whether the death of the tiger was natural or due to some other reasons.