Bandhavgarh: The massive tiger rescue effort – perhaps a one of a kind in itself – ended up in disappointment as the last of the litter died at Bandhavgarh tiger reserve on Wednesday morning.
Forest officials confirmed the death of the four-month-old male cub saying that this one, like the others, also suffered from Parvovirus and showed diminishing blood platelets of late.
Veterinary expert from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Dr Vaibhav Mathur, is at the reserve looking into the cubs’ deaths.
The mission, had hogged global limelight, as after rescuing three cubs on January 19 this year from Shahdol, the forest department kept them inside a room resembling the wilderness and put a stuffed toy replicating a tigress.
Their mother had died walking into an electric trap laid by poachers.
The stuffed toy however was even fitted with artificial nipples and milk bottle so that the timid cubs can feed on it. Later, they were switched to a diet of crushed meat.
Forest employees used to monitor the orphaned cubs round-the-clock, a wildlife volunteer said. The volunteer added that the Parvovirus is found among cats, dogs and could spread through coming in contact with grass, stone or soil.
The two other cubs – both females – had died on last Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
With this, Madhya Pradesh, the erstwhile Tiger State, has lost 41 tigers in last 14 months.
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