Kaziranga Officials Find Decomposed Tiger Carcass, Samples Sent for Forensics

GUWAHATI: The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP&TR) officials detected the carcass of an adult male Royal Bengal Tiger in the 6th Addition (Monabari Soil) area of the park on Tuesday morning. 

The discovery was made around 8:30 AM on February 24, 2026, by staff of the Lahorijan Anti-Poaching Camp under the Central Range of the Biswanath Wildlife Division during routine patrol.

According to officials, the carcass was found in an advanced stage of decomposition, with bones, skin, nails, and teeth intact at the site.

A post-mortem examination was conducted by the Veterinary Officer in the presence of a committee constituted in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Preliminary findings suggest that the tiger’s death was due to natural causes, possibly linked to old age. Samples have been collected and preserved for forensic analysis to rule out any other factors. Following established protocols, the carcass was disposed of by burning.

As per the latest tiger census, the 6th Addition area of Kaziranga hosts 27 Royal Bengal Tigers, contributing significantly to the overall increase in the tiger population in the Kaziranga landscape.

Also Read: A Cat That Swims Like an Otter: Inside the World of the Fishing Cat