Royal Bengal Tiger dies in Borivali national park

Mumbai, Oct 5: A 13-year-old Royal Bengal tiger inhabiting the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in suburban Borivali died of age-related ailments.

The feline, named Palash, died yesterday, veterinarian Dr Shailesh Pethe said.Palash had been on saline for four days, but chances of its survival were grim due to renal failure, the doctor said.

Tiger, being a carnivorous animal, consumes high amount of protein. Renal failure is common among such animals in old age. The tigers in protected areas generally live up to 16 years, Pethe said.

Palash's serum creatinine levels had shot up and it died due to excessive weakness. A postmortem was conducted yesterday and the exact cause of death would be inferred from the results that are expected in a couple of days, an official of the national park said.

The carnivore's funeral was later performed in the park itself.Palash was the second eldest tiger at the park after 16-year-old male albino tiger "Bajirao".It had fathered four offsprings -- two males and as many females.

One of its four-year-old offsprings, royal Begal tigress Puja, had died on February 4 last year at the park due to septicaemia or blood poisoning.

The Maharashtra Forest department recently brought two twin Royal Bengal tigresses, Bijlee and Mastani, to SGNP from Pench Tiger Reserve in the state.

The park at present has seven tigers -- four Royal Bengal tigresses and three males including the white albino tiger.

PTI