Bhopal– A tigress, believed to be between eight and ten years old, was found dead on Tuesday in Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha Tiger Reserve, officials confirmed Wednesday. Her body was discovered wedged between two rocks near the Sulkum River in the Mundidadar forest area of the Kanha Range.
Preliminary investigations suggest the tigress may have died due to a landslide caused by recent heavy rainfall. Forest officials noted that the area had experienced significant downpours, which could have led to unstable terrain.
This marks the sixth tiger death in Kanha and its surrounding areas in 2025, sparking growing concern among conservationists. Earlier this year, fatalities included a two-year-old tigress in January, a 13-year-old tigress in February, a five-year-old male in March, and a 15-month-old tigress and six-month-old cub in April. Of these, five deaths occurred inside the reserve, while one was reported just outside park boundaries.
In accordance with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocols, forest authorities promptly launched an investigation. A dog squad assisted in surveying the site, and samples have been sent for forensic analysis to determine the precise cause of death.
The tigress’s remains were cremated in the presence of forest department officials, a local tehsildar, the village sarpanch, and an NTCA representative. A forest crime case has also been registered, and the investigation remains ongoing.
“Initial observations indicate that all organs were intact, and there were no immediate signs of foul play. While a natural landslide appears to be the likely cause, we are awaiting forensic confirmation to rule out other possibilities,” a senior forest official stated.
The string of tiger deaths this year has raised alarm about the safety and stability of the tiger population in one of India’s most iconic reserves. (Source: IANS)
