Pesticides' traces found in dead tigress stomach

The post-mortem report of a tigress, found dead in a canal in the Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh two months ago, has made officials uneasy.

The report has pointed to presence of pesticides, used by farmers, in the stomach of the 5-6-year-old tigress.

In July, the corpse of tigress was found in a canal in Lakhimpur Kheri but the reason of death could not be ascertained. There were no injury marks on the animal's body.

The corpse of tigress was sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly. The doctors preserved her viscera for further tests.

South Kheri Forest Department Officer Sameer Kumar told IANS, "The report suggested that parts of insecticides from organophosphate group was found in the viscera". He, however, refused to say anything further.

Earlier, IVRI Director R.K. Singh had confirmed submission of the report to the forest officer.

While some suspected that the tigress might had licked the grass containing pesticide, Sameer Kumar rubbished the theory saying pork was found in her stomach.

According to another theory, in Lakhimpur Kheri farmers sprinkle pesticides in sugarcane fields which got transferred to the tigress through pig that the tigress ate.IANS