Tiger cub killed in Uttarakhand hit-&-run

A six-month-old tiger cub was killed after being hit by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the Rampur-Haldwani road in the Tanda range of the Terai Central Forest Division, about 1.5 km from Sanjay Van around 9pm Tuesday, officials said. Tanda range officer Roop Narayan Gautam and his team reached the spot upon receiving the information and took the cub's carcass into custody.

"The vehicle that struck the cub remains unidentified. An autopsy will be conducted Wednesday and we are initiating legal action against the unknown driver," Gautam said. He added that tigers, elephants, and other wildlife frequently cross this stretch of road.

"A tigress was spotted in the area a few days ago. The deceased cub likely belonged to her," he said. This is not the first such incident. On Jan 6 last year, a six-year-old tiger was fatally hit by a car. Several similar accidents have been reported in the past. In 2023, a six-year-old tiger was fatally struck by a speeding car on the Haldwani road near Rudrapur. Uttarakhand recorded 15 tiger deaths in 2024, down from 22 in 2023, with causes including natural factors, territorial fights, and accidents. While poaching cases have significantly declined, authorities remain concerned about the impact of road traffic on wildlife movement.

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