Nagpur: A 10-year-old male tiger, identified as 'T9,' was found dead after a territorial fight with another tiger near Nagdev Pahadi, just one kilometer from the Nagzira tourist complex on Sunday morning. The carcass of the resident tiger was discovered by patrolling staff around 10 a.m. in compartment number 96 of the Nagzira range.

According to the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary management, the fight likely involved a younger tiger, estimated to be around five years old, which had recently entered the sanctuary this summer. The younger tiger had been spotted by forest staff near the Nagdev hillock area two to three days earlier and was reported to be roaming the region.

Officials believe the younger tiger challenged the older, dominant T9 for control of the territory and emerged victorious. The Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, of which Nagzira is a part, spans over 650 square kilometers in Gondia district.

A post-mortem examination was conducted by a team of veterinary doctors in the presence of representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Viscera samples were collected for forensic investigation, and the carcass was cremated at the site under the supervision of NTCA members and forest officers.