13-Year-Old Tigress Thakurani Dies At Bengal Rescue Centre, Cause Unknown

A tigress rescued from the Sundarbans died at the Jharkhali Tiger Rehabilitation Centre in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Tuesday morning. Forest officials said the exact cause of death is not known yet.

The adult tigress, Thakurani, was rescued from a sandbar in the Thakuran river in December 2024. Forest staff had noticed that she was behaving unusually in the nearby forest.

She was taken to the Alipore Zoological Gardens for treatment. She stayed there for several months under the care of vets before being moved to Jharkhali. At the rehabilitation centre, she remained under regular watch and received treatment when needed.

Officials said Thakurani’s health was being closely monitored. The centre had also stepped up care for its tigers during the summer. Earlier this year, staff were giving the animals frequent baths, ORS mixed with drinking water and extra health checks to help them cope with the heat.

Despite the care, Thakurani died on Tuesday. Her cause of death has not been confirmed. Officials said veterinary tests, the post-mortem report and the forest department’s findings will help establish what happened.

Her death comes after other losses at the centre. In September 2025, 23-year-old tigress Sohini died at Jharkhali after suffering from age-related health problems. She had also battled cataracts and dental issues.

Five months earlier, 21-year-old Sohan died at the same centre. He was one of the first tigers housed there and had been rescued after becoming too weak to hunt in the wild. Officials suspected old age and other health problems.

Forest officials said three tiger deaths have been reported in the Sundarbans in recent times, including two at Jharkhali. Another tiger, known as Maharaj, was found dead near Bani Camp in 2025, with an autopsy pointing to natural causes.

The post-mortem report on Thakurani is now awaited. It is expected to provide the clearest answer on what led to the tigress’s death.