Ranthambore: Rajasthan’s Ranthambore tiger dies day after being relocated, greens raise concerns | Jaipur News

JAIPUR/UDAIPUR: Another tiger has lost its life in the state due to the alleged carelessness of forest officials. Tiger T-104, originally from Ranthambore, was found dead on Wednesday, a day after it was relocated from its enclosure in Bheed to Sajjan Biological Park in Udaipur as it was considered a threat to humans.
Preliminary evidence suggested tranquilization in hot weather as the cause of its death. This is the second big cat to die in the state in a week, prompting green activists to raise concerns over the timing of the forest department’s decision to relocate the tigers. They questioned the urgency of the move, saying there was no pressing need for it.
“The forest officials have developed an overconfident attitude and continue to experiment with tigers without any sense of accountability, even when it results in the death of tigers. The tiger was in an enclosure in Ranthambore for the past three years. There was no need to relocate it to Sajjangarh during the hot weather. The forest officials should have waited till the monsoon or winter,” said Tapeshwar Singh Bhati, a lawyer and environmentalist.
Forest officials disputed claims that the tiger’s death was caused by hot weather. A senior official said, “The tiger was transported in an air-conditioned van and was placed on ice slabs after being tranquilized. Upon its release into an enclosure at Sajjangarh, it appeared healthy and agile, jumping out of the van normally. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained.”