Four killings, one capture bid — then the tigress died

On the same day that a tigress believed to have killed four people in Amravati and Wardha succumbed to her injuries during a capture attempt, concerns have surfaced regarding the sedation process employed. According to sources, the elusive animal was first darted twice with a mix of Xylazine and Ketamine in Shirajgaon Kasba village, Amravati’s Chandur Bazar taluka, before being immobilized with Medetomidine.

The tigress' deteriorating condition led to her demise during treatment. The Forest Department has not officially declared the overdose as the cause of death, citing "cardio-respiratory failure" as the likely reason, pending further examination. A preliminary post-mortem suggested the tiger's swift movements, elusive nature, and the exhaustion of the rescue team as contributing factors.

The Forest Department had not confirmed the overdose as the cause of death. Organ samples were dispatched for histopathological and toxicological tests to ascertain the exact reason for her death. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Amravati, Jyoti Banerjee, revealed that the team was reaching its limits and had to call for additional assistance, resulting in the Pune rescue team's swift response.

The tigress had been roaming across Wardha and Amravati for approximately three weeks, having been suspected of killing four individuals. This gruesome spree prompted outrage among residents and escalated pressure on the Forest Department to capture the animal. There were also questions raised about the availability of reversal medication on-site, a crucial component of chemical immobilization operations.