Mysuru: A maggot-infested tigress, writhing in pain in a field in Kundakere village near Bandipur Tiger Reserve, was rescued and shifted to Chamundi Rehabilitation Centre in Mysuru on Friday. The tigress has been kept under observation, and its condition appears to be critical.Villagers tipped off the presence of the big cat near their village to foresters early in the day. It was struggling to move because of the injury and had also grown weak due to starvation. It was then tranquilised and rescued.Bandipur director S Prabhakaran said the tigress is around 11-years-old and has suffered wounds due to infighting. It strayed out of the Kundakere Forest Range and reached the village.Following complaints from villagers about the presence of another big cat, a combing operation with tamed elephants has been launched, the director said, adding that cattle have killed by the big cats earlier in the village.Zoo authorities said the big cat is recuperating from the tranquiliser dart and is under observation. It has been put on fluids. There are maggot wounds all over its body, and it is being treated. An officer said the tigress is aged and starved after it was forced out of the forest, maybe three to four days earlier.
