Bettiah/Patna: A tiger cub died in a suspected crocodile attack in the Manguraha forest area of Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran on Wednesday morning, forest officials said.
The incident occurred around 5am near a canal bridge under construction close to Meghauli Chowk. According to initial reports, the cub — estimated to be five to six months old — had approached the Don canal to drink water when it was attacked by a crocodile.
Officials said the two animals reportedly struggled for nearly half an hour, with the cub’s roars heard across the area. Alarmed by the noise, nearby villagers alerted the forest department, which rushed a team to the scene.
The cub’s body was later recovered from the canal bank, with officials noting that it had sustained severe injuries, with a significant portion of the body damaged.
Senior officials, including field director Gaurav Ojha, visited the site following the incident. As a precautionary measure, movement within parts of the forest office area has been restricted.
Forest authorities said the cub had likely become separated from its mother. A postmortem examination is underway to confirm the exact cause of death and determine whether the injuries were solely due to a crocodile attack.
Pattern Of Wildlife Conflict
The incident is the latest in a series of animal conflicts reported from the reserve. In recent years, territorial fights between tigers have resulted in fatalities, including the death of a tigress in the Harnatand range. Encounters between predators and prey — such as tiger attacks on wild boar — have also been documented, while clashes between tigers and leopards continue to occur over territory and food.
Experts say such conflicts are often driven by competition over territory, scarcity of prey and increased activity around water sources, particularly during warmer months when animals converge at canals and rivers.
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Rising Tiger Population, Growing Pressures
Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar’s only tiger habitat, has recorded a steady rise in its tiger population, increasing from eight in 2010 to 54 in 2022. Ongoing national census estimates suggest the number may now be close to 70.
While this growth is seen as a conservation success, officials acknowledge that increasing wildlife density, coupled with human presence and shrinking natural spaces, is contributing to more frequent and sometimes fatal encounters within the ecosystem.
Authorities said further investigation is ongoing as they assess the circumstances surrounding the cub’s death.
