As the star attraction of Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Tigress Maya, remains missing, her fans, well wishers, and conservationists are kicking up a storm on social media speculating what could have happened to her or where she could have gone. Many theories about her disappearance are being circulated with some even concluding that she is dead.
However, Tadoba authorities have dismissed these talks as rumours while commenting that the forest department has stepped up efforts to find out the whereabouts of the tigress named by them as T-12.
Tadoba Field Director Dr. Jitendra Ramgaonkar also clarified that some skeletal remains found inside the Reserve, the photos of which have been doing the rounds of social media as that of Maya, have not been identified as those of T-12.
He said, “A sample of bones collected during patrolling exercise on 18 November has been sent to NCBS, Bengaluru, for further analysis in terms of species of animal, sex, etc. We shall share the findings as and when received.”
He further appealed to all to not engage in rumour mongering and believe only the official statements from the Tiger Reserve.
