Bhubaneswar, May 10: The death of a Royal Bengal Tiger cub found in the core area of Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district has fuelled speculations about the possibility of poaching, though authorities say a crocodile has killed it.

The carcass of around seven-month-old tiger cub was found in the Upper Barhakamuda area located in the West Bay (compartment No. 26) of the core area in the tiger reserve on May 4.

Wildlife experts said the poachers had killed the tiger cub at Similipal.

Wildlife expert Bhanumitra Acharya said the animal might have eaten a prey poisoned by the poachers.

"It might have fallen thirsty after being poisoned and went to drink water in the river, where it died," Acharya said.

However, the tiger reserve's deputy director Yagnadutta Pati ruled out the angle that the cub could have died from poaching.

"There is no evidence of poaching. It's a sort of natural death. Circumstantial evidence revealed that a mugger had dragged the tiger cub and killed it. There were dragging marks near the spot," he said.

Mugger is one of the three crocodile species found in the state, the other two being the gharial and the baula.

Acharya has contested this claim. "Muggers do not attack wild animals. They are scavengers and prey on dead animals. The Similipal Tiger Reserve does not have a history of muggers killing tigers," said the wildlife expert.

He has also accused the authorities of not following the National Tiger Conservation Authority's guidelines, which need to be abided by after a tiger cub's death.

It was also alleged that the post-mortem on the tiger cub was performed hastily at night, and the wildlife experts had not been invited to be present during the procedure. The wildlife expert said the carcass was burnt instead of being buried.

On the other hand, Pati asserted that all the requisite procedures had been followed as well as their photographs were taken.

In February 2013, the carcass of an adult Royal Bengal Tigress was found in a forest of Jodapal beat under the Simlipal Tiger Reserve.

On that occasion, too, the authorities had ruled out the poaching angle and said the 15-year-old tigress had lived its full life.