A Tiger was found dead in an abandoned manganese mine in Manegaon beat of Ramtek Forest Range on December 7. A total of 18 tigers have died in Vidarbha this year said the officials.
Field staff members who were inspecting Bihada mine in compartment no. 293 for preparing a report for higher authorities where they found the tiger drowned in the mine having water level at 25 feet.
The field staff members then immediately informed to forest officers about the incident. Sandip Giri, Assistant Conservator of Forest, Ramtek, and Kundan Hate, Honorary Wildlife Warden, rushed to the spot. The abandoned mine is about 55 feet deep with water-level at 25 feet in it. As per primary estimate, the big cat must have slipped from rocky.