Tiger Death Toll Rises in Madhya Pradesh as Cub and Adult Found Dead

Bhopal: A tiger cub and an adult tiger have been found dead in separate incidents in Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha Tiger Reserve and Balaghat district, taking the total number of tiger deaths in the state this year to 23, officials said.

The carcass of a cub, estimated to be between one and one-and-a-half years old, was discovered in the core Sargi area of the reserve, which spans Mandla and Balaghat districts. Authorities conducted a post-mortem on Friday and are awaiting the report to determine the exact cause of death.

Initial findings suggest the cub may have died due to starvation, possibly because it was not fed by its mother. Officials noted that another cub from the same litter had died just days earlier. The tigress had reportedly given birth to four cubs, of which two have now died, while the remaining two are under close monitoring.

In a separate incident, a full-grown tiger was found dead in the north forest division of Balaghat district. The cause of death in this case is also under investigation.

Madhya Pradesh, which recorded the highest number of tigers in India—785 as per the 2022 census—has seen a worrying rise in tiger fatalities. Since April 2 alone, nine tiger deaths have been reported across the state.

According to data from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, 21 tiger deaths had already been recorded by April 21 this year. The latest incidents have intensified concerns among wildlife experts and conservationists.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey raised alarm over the trend, stating that Madhya Pradesh continues to rank high in tiger deaths, including unnatural ones. He pointed to gaps in monitoring and patrolling as possible contributing factors and called for greater accountability from forest officials.