Apart from humans, the tigers of Sunderbans now have a new threat — the crocodiles. In a rare battle for survival, a big cat fell victim to a crocodile for the first time in the mangrove forests. Prima facie report from the veterinary doctors point to at least 25-30 teeth marks on the body of the dead tiger confirming that the tiger had died due to heavy bleeding after one of its paws and part of genitals were eaten away by the other predator. According to the Field Director, Sunderbans, Dr Subrat Mukherjee, the patrolling party of the Tiger Reserve found the carcass of an eight-year-old tiger near Panchamukhi area of Dobaki Island on Tuesday morning, on the banks of the creek and a 14-foot-long crocodile was guarding the kill. The tiger's genitals and one of the hind legs were missing. The ghastly state of the carcass prompted forest officials to send for vets from Kolkata Zoo, rather than have it examined by their regular STR vets. The patrol party had recorded footage before taking the body for post-mortem. According to wildlife experts this is the first such documented case in the Sunderbans. As the tigers have often to swim for lengths across rivulets, they came often come in contact the crocodiles. However, this is for the first time a crocodile has stalked and hunted a tiger in the Sunderbans. The tigress was full grown and appears to have been attacked by the crocodile while crossing the river, they felt. Since the big cat was a mature one, it wouldn’t have given in easily--- a fierce duel must have followed but the tiger though powerful could not have the edge over the crocodile, as the fight was in water.