Kaziranga National Park found its third dead tiger in two weeks. Forest staff discovered a female tiger carcass on January 18, 2026, just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for a new 86-km elevated wildlife corridor near the park. Post-mortem results suggest the tigress died from infighting in the Kathpora area of the Bagori Range. Earlier, a female tiger was found dead on January 4 in Paschim Bimoli, and a three-year-old male tiger carcass was recovered in the Gamiri Range. Veterinarians say the male tiger's death may be natural or due to infighting, which is common when tiger territories overlap. However, Kaziranga has ample prey, so experts believe the high tiger density causes conflict. Tiger specialist M. Firoz Ahmed from Aaranyak said, "As the tiger population in Kaziranga is at its maximum upper limit, infighting may be influenced by the carnivore’s inability to move out and settle beyond the core area (430 sq. km) of the park." Ahmed suggests developing nearby habitats like Laokhowa and Burhachapori to allow tigers more space and improve coexistence with humans. The 2024 tiger census showed Kaziranga's tiger population rose to 148 from 104 in 2022, making it the world's third-highest tiger density with 18 tigers per 100 sq. km. The park authorities have set up a committee to handle the deceased tigress's carcass following national guidelines.