A lurking threat to tigers and leopards
- Posted
In view of the escalating man-animal conflict involving tigers around Bandipur-Nagarahole belt, the authorities are wondering if the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), which spreads from dogs and can be deadly for big cats, has been affecting wildlife. The virus is contagious and has no cure once it affects tigers or leopards, though the dogs have chances of survival. The afflicted wild animal gets disoriented, loses fear of human beings and tends to lurk closer to human habitation. This leads to the cats not only being sighted more often on the forest fringes, but it also makes them susceptible to poaching.