Investigators have said that the tiger found deal at Nagarahole National Park in Kakanakote forests earlier in the month, was poisoned.

Officials suspect that the poisoning of the tiger was an act of revenge and believe that the animal might have strayed out of the range and might have attacked live stocks of the nearby inhabitants. The post-mortem report and visceral analysis of the tiger found on January 13 near the Kabini backwaters showed the presence of zinc phosphide, a substance used in rat poison.

Investigators found no sign of external injuries, confirming suspicion of poisoning. They have said that it is very unlikely that any poachers were involved because neither the skin nor the claws had been removed from the tiger. R. Gokul, Director, Conservator of Forests and Director, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve confirmed reports that the tiger was poisoned.

Mr. Gokul said that the tigers have a tendency to store some meat for later consumption and the villagers seeking retribution from the tiger fir attacking their livestock might have killed the tiger. This is the first such case of tiger being poisoned in the national park, which houses about 70 tigers and is among the major reserves in the country for the endangered species.