Bengaluru: As mystery surrounding Bandipur’s best photographed tiger-Prince’s death remains unsolved, a few believe he may have fallen victim to a meat bomb the latest tool of poachers to hunt wild animals.

Contrary to the erstwhile period when only notorious wildlife poacher Sansar Chand ruled the forests of Karnataka, today there are quite a few groups who have ventured into the poaching arena and have well established network with agents in the international grey market, their counterparts in forest reserves across country as well as the locals residing on the outskirts of the forests.

As per sources, a new gang of poachers/hunters, said to be having old ties with Chand is active. This gang, functioning in Lokkere range in Bandipur area is specifically targeting leopards and wild boars using meat bomb.

However, a post mortem analysis is still awaited to ascertain the reason for Prince’s death which initially was said to be a natural death out of starvation.

In the absence of deep jungle patrolling by the forest guards and patrol teams restricted to main roads of the reserve forests, poachers with the help of villagers in Kodihalli and other villages in the border areas kill these wild animals using meat bombs, said a local who added that the meat is sold in villages at prices lower than mutton because they need to dispose it fast.

The villagers too support the poachers since they want to get rid of the rising wild boar population.