Guwahati: A forest guard has been suspended on Monday for unwarranted firing which led to the death of a male Royal Bengal Tiger in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP & TR) in Assam. The incident happened on June 18.
The post-mortem revealed that the bullet injury through the lungs and the heart caused the death of the animal.
As per investigation, on June 17 the tiger killed a cow in the area and villagers approached the forest official for help. The forest guard had initiated an operation without required arrangements. When the tiger tried to attack, instead of firing in the air, he fired at the animal.
An inquiry conducted by the Assistance Conservator of Forests revealed that the firing was unwarranted based on which the staff concerned was suspended.
This is the third tiger found dead in the park this year. In February, a tiger carcass was recovered from KNP & TR. Similarly on June 5, another carcass of a four-year-old male tiger was found in Sidha Kathoni area of the national park.