Wildlife lovers and regular visitors to Van Vihar will miss the tigress as she was one of the main wildlife animals displayed in an enclosure for visitors to the park.
She was famous as Riddhi. According to the official statement, she has been ill for a few days and was found lying dead in the enclosure of the national park on Thursday.
Official sources at Van Vihar told IANS that tigress Riddhi has stopped taking regular food and has been kept under observation. However, officials said she appeared normal in her residential area on Wednesday.
Riddhi was brought from Indore Zoo to Van Vihar in Bhopal on 28 December 2013 under the animal exchange programme. She was about 4 years old at the time of transfer and is now about 15 years old.
"The tigress had not taken her regular meal for the last two days, which was normal for her. Till Wednesday she was looking normal in her enclosure, but on Thursday the animal was found unconscious," the park's wildlife veterinarian said. Atul Gupta.
The autopsy was conducted by a team of veterinarians including Dr. Atul Gupta of Van Vihar, Assistant Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Hamza Nadeem Farooqui and Dr. Rajat Kulkarni of Wildlife SOS.
The initial cause of death was identified as organ failure due to old age. Samples of the tigress were collected and sent to the School of Wildlife Forensic Health in Jabalpur for further analysis.
After the post-mortem, the tigress was cremated as per protocol in the presence of Conservator of Forest, Bhopal Circle, Director of Van Vihar and other officers and staff.
The lifespan of tigers in the wild is usually 15 to 16 years. According to wildlife experts, in captivity they live longer because of the protected environment and care provided.
Only 15 tigers are left in Van Vihar National Park.
She was famous as Riddhi. According to the official statement, she has been ill for a few days and was found lying dead in the enclosure of the national park on Thursday.
Official sources at Van Vihar told IANS that tigress Riddhi has stopped taking regular food and has been kept under observation. However, officials said she appeared normal in her residential area on Wednesday.
Riddhi was brought from Indore Zoo to Van Vihar in Bhopal on 28 December 2013 under the animal exchange programme. She was about 4 years old at the time of transfer and is now about 15 years old.
"The tigress had not taken her regular meal for the last two days, which was normal for her. Till Wednesday she was looking normal in her enclosure, but on Thursday the animal was found unconscious," the park's wildlife veterinarian said. Atul Gupta.
The autopsy was conducted by a team of veterinarians including Dr. Atul Gupta of Van Vihar, Assistant Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Hamza Nadeem Farooqui and Dr. Rajat Kulkarni of Wildlife SOS.
The initial cause of death was identified as organ failure due to old age. Samples of the tigress were collected and sent to the School of Wildlife Forensic Health in Jabalpur for further analysis.
After the post-mortem, the tigress was cremated as per protocol in the presence of Conservator of Forest, Bhopal Circle, Director of Van Vihar and other officers and staff.
The lifespan of tigers in the wild is usually 15 to 16 years. According to wildlife experts, in captivity they live longer because of the protected environment and care provided.
Only 15 tigers are left in Van Vihar National Park.
