In the first five months of 2026, Madhya Pradesh has reported the loss of 32 tigers, raising significant concerns about the state’s tiger population. While poaching has been largely controlled, the introduction of electrified fencing outside core areas poses a new and critical threat to these big cats. Among the casualties is a tigress and her four cubs, which succumbed to the canine distemper virus in Kanha.
The alarming number of big cat fatalities, particularly outside protected zones, underscores a growing conflict between tiger populations and human-dominated landscapes. Forest officials indicated that the recent deaths primarily stem from encounters in areas where tiger populations are encroaching on agricultural and human settlements. Illegal electric wire traps, intended to catch wild boar and protect crops, have emerged as one of the most serious risks for tigers.
Once-robust poaching networks connected to international wildlife trafficking have been significantly dismantled. However, this has led to the rise of localized threats that are harder to monitor, with electrocution now identified as a key cause of tiger deaths. According to recent data, Madhya Pradesh is home to 785 of India’s total tiger population of 3,682, reflecting a 49% increase from 2018 to 2022, which is nearly double the national growth rate of 24%. Despite this increase, the habitat for these tigers has not expanded correspondingly, resulting in a significant spillover of big cats into human territories.
As reserves grow more crowded, it is estimated that around 40% of the state’s tigers are now dwelling in areas outside protected zones, with nearly 20% traversing heavily human-influenced landscapes. The rising interaction between tiger movement routes and human settlements is contributing to the concerning pattern of tiger fatalities, nearly 80% of which have occurred outside protected areas this year.
Madhya Pradesh’s chief wildlife warden, Samita Rajora, highlighted that seven tiger deaths this year resulted from electrocution, primarily linked to traps set for bushmeat hunting or agricultural protection. The use of illegally electrified wire traps involves the tampering of conventional power lines, where hunters connect wires to overhead lines, leading to severe electric shocks for any animal that touches them.
High-risk areas adjacent to the Bandhavgarh and Pench Tiger Reserves are being prioritized for intervention. Efforts are underway to enhance cooperation with both the electricity and revenue departments to monitor and analyze power-line data along with GPS tracking to pinpoint electrocution hotspots.
The tiger mortality data reveals that in 2025, the state recorded 55 tiger deaths, which equates to a mortality rate of approximately 7%, above the national average of under 5%. Of these deaths, around 69% were attributed to natural or incidental causes, while nearly 20% were linked to electrocution. However, most of these incidents did not indicate deliberate hunting or illicit trade.
While poaching networks have weakened, the threat has shifted to decentralized actors—bushmeat hunters and farmers implementing electrified wire traps and fencing. A recent case in Seoni involved a tigress that was electrocuted near cultivated land, with its carcass reportedly disposed of to eliminate evidence of the cause of death. In another incident, a radio-collared tiger was allegedly poisoned, indicating potentially illegal activities linked to the region.
Efforts to mitigate these threats have been underway since 2018, with officials advocating for joint patrolling and monitoring of the power lines. However, wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has criticized the electricity department for its lack of collaboration, which hampers effective prevention measures.
Regarding threats within tiger habitats, a recent outbreak of canine distemper virus in Kanha Tiger Reserve has claimed the lives of five tigers—one tigress and her four cubs. In response, forest officials are taking urgent containment actions, including vaccinating approximately 100 dogs in adjacent villages and sealing off affected forest areas.
Rajora emphasized the department’s multi-layered approach to combating this viral outbreak, which focuses on critical vaccination efforts and stringent monitoring to prevent further spread. The containment measures include draining and disinfecting water supplies within the quarantine zone and restricting tourist access to the affected areas.
