Shankari, reported to be one of the world’s oldest tigresses, caged in a mini zoo in Chhattisgarh’s capital city, died on Friday last week. The cremation took place with full honours on Saturday, in the zoo and in the presence of senior forest officials. The next day, however, everyone was taken aback when not a single bone or tooth could be recovered from the ashes.
The forest officials initially said the bones and teeth had also been reduced to ashes. When veterinary experts strongly refuted this contention, the higher authorities in the forest department realised something was amiss and ordered an investigation. After all, tiger bones and teeth fetch significant premiums on the black market.
