What are the reasons behind the recent deaths of tigers in Nilgiris district
Explained | Why are tigers dying in Nilgiris district?
The recent deaths of tigers in Nilgiris district have raised concerns and investigations are underway to determine the causes. Here are some possible reasons behind these unfortunate incidents:
- Poaching: Tigers are often targeted by poachers for their valuable body parts, which are in high demand in the illegal wildlife trade.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Encroachment into tiger habitats, fragmentation of forests, and agricultural activities can lead to increased interactions between humans and tigers, resulting in conflicts that sometimes lead to deaths.
- Loss of Natural Prey: If a tiger's natural prey, such as deer or wild boar, decline in numbers due to habitat degradation or other factors, the tiger may be forced to hunt livestock, leading to retaliatory killings by humans.
- Illegal Wildlife Trade: Tigers may be targeted for captive breeding and their cubs sold in the illegal pet trade, which can lead to deaths during capture or transportation.
- Poisoning: In some cases, tigers may accidentally consume poisoned baits or carcasses left out by farmers or poachers targeting other animals, resulting in their deaths.
- Disease: Tigers can be susceptible to various diseases, such as canine distemper, which can lead to mortality in cases where they come into contact with infected domestic or feral animals.
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a year ago