Mumbai
Avni, the man-eating tigress who is alleged to have killed 13 persons, was shot dead in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district last night, the state police said on Saturday.

The announcement was greeted with cheers by people living in the vicinity of the forest frequented by the tigress. Social media showed people bursting fire crackers and smearing themselves with colours after forest officials announced the killing of the big cat.

The police said the tigress was shot by sharp shooter Asghar Ali of the Hyderabad royal family. She is survived by her two cubs, who are 10 months old. Officials are searching for the cubs, which would be relocated to a sanctuary, sources said.

The tigress, known officially as T1, was ordered to be shot at sight by the Supreme Court, which dismissed the petition of animal rights activists last month. Earlier this month, animal lovers in the cities took to social media in order to get the state government to capture the tigress alive.