A tiger cub was found dead in the Kanha Tiger Reserve, while the carcass of an adult tiger was discovered in Balaghat district, bringing the total number of tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh to 23 since January this year, officials reported to PTI.
The cub, estimated to be between one and one-and-a-half years old, was located on Thursday evening in the Sargi area of the reserve, which spans Mandla and Balaghat districts. “The post-mortem of the cub was conducted on Friday, and we are awaiting its report to determine the exact cause of death,” stated Deputy Director Amita B. She indicated that initially, the cub may have succumbed to starvation due to a lack of care from its mother. Notably, another cub from the same tigress had died just three days prior. “The tigress gave birth to four cubs, of which two have died. We are closely monitoring her and the remaining two cubs,” she added.
In a separate incident, a full-grown tiger was found dead in the north forest division of Balaghat. Madhya Pradesh, which recorded 785 tigers in the 2022 census—the highest in the country—has seen nine deaths since April 2, when a tiger was discovered dead in a forested area of Burhanpur.
Data from the National Tiger Conservation Authority indicates that the state had registered 21 tiger deaths by April 21 this year, with the first death of 2023 reported on January 7 in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey expressed concern, stating, “Madhya Pradesh ranks first in tiger deaths, including unnatural ones, which is worrying,” and pointed to shortcomings in monitoring and patrolling efforts.
