RATNANAGAR: An endangered species of spotted tiger that was rescued and kept in a cage at Kasara, the main office of Chitwan National Park (CNP), was found dead.

The Royal Bengal tiger died due to an infection on its right leg wound, informed Senior Veterinary Doctor Kamal Gaire.

The tiger, aged around 11, was rescued from Rapti Ekata Buffer Zone Community Forest under the Khagendramalli Range Post of eastern Chitwan three months ago.

"The tiger was eating well up to Monday," said Chief Conservation Officer Bed Kumar Dhakal, adding that the beast was found dead when CNP staff went to feed it on Tuesday.

A team of veterinary doctors led by Kamal Gaire had been attending the ailing tiger for the past 10 days but in vain, Dhakal shared.

It has been learnt that the tiger had killed around 20 animals and injured a local in the territory, so the CNP had resorted to cage the animal.

The serial demise of tigers in CNP of late is a setback to the conservation of the rare species.