K.S. Sudhi KOCHI: A tigress of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) was found dead near Anchuruli. The immediate cause of the death of the six-year-old has been confirmed to be starvation. The post-mortem examination found that the animal had suffered a blow on its abdomen leading to muscle rupture and subsequent immobility and starvation, said veterinary experts. The tigress was assigned the identification number 006 when its images were taken during the recent tiger census. The digital cameras installed by the Forest Department had photographed it 28 times recently, Forest Department officials said. Each tiger was given a unique identification number as part of the census and their unique stripes were documented. The stripes on the carcass were compared with the digital image to confirm its identity. A tribal who was on a fishing outing spotted the carcass of the animal. The death may have occurred three days ago, considering the putrefaction of the carcass, Forest officials said. There were no external injuries on its body except the muscle rupture of 10 cm. diameter in its abdomen. As the animal was found to have suffered a blow in the abdomen, it is assumed that it might have suffered a kick from a sub-adult tusker. Metal detectors were used on the carcass to find out traces of metal, which indicate the possibility of poaching. However, no metal traces were found, they said.