Tiger Infighting Claims Fourth Life in Kaziranga This Year

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has recorded the fourth Royal Bengal tiger death of the year, attributed to infighting. The carcass of a male tiger was discovered recently in the Burapahar Range, with post-mortem examinations indicating territorial conflict as the cause.

This incident follows three other tiger deaths reported earlier in January from different ranges within the park. Wildlife biologists emphasize that while tiger infighting is a natural consequence of territorial behavior, a deeper analysis of recent incidents is warranted.

Experts propose utilizing camera-trapping data to understand which tiger groups are most involved in these fatal disputes. They also recommend verifying the prey-predator balance, especially given Kaziranga's high tiger density, to assess the park's carrying capacity and optimize the tiger population.

Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had an estimated 148 Royal Bengal tigers last year. The current tiger density is high, prompting calls for studies to determine the park's optimum tiger population and territorial expansion behaviors.