Gurjar Villagers Protest Against Madhav National Park Staff
A large number of villagers from the Gurjar community staged a protest outside the Survaya police station in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district late Tuesday night. They accused the staff of Madhav National Park of stealing livestock from villages surrounding the reserve to feed tigers. However, the tiger reserve dismissed these allegations as baseless and linked them to recent enforcement actions against villagers for unauthorized grazing in the protected area.
Allegations of Livestock Theft
The protesters claimed that a buffalo calf owned by Sangram Singh Gurjar was loaded into a vehicle by reserve staff. An elderly resident reportedly witnessed the animal being taken away by forest personnel. The protest continued until around 1 am, ending only after police registered a theft case against unidentified persons based on the villagers' complaint.
Growing Anger Among Villagers
The incident has sparked anger in surrounding villages, where locals say livestock has frequently gone missing in recent months. Initially, villagers believed wild predators were attacking cattle, but they now suspect the animals may have been stolen by reserve management to feed tigers.
Reserve's Response
Field director Uttam Sharma countered the allegations, stating that villagers have repeatedly entered the reserve with livestock despite restrictions imposed after Madhav National Park was declared India's 58th tiger reserve in March 2025. Forest teams recently found villagers grazing cattle near the tiger enclosure in Balarpur area, leading to four villagers being booked under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Tiger Population in Madhav National Park
The reserve, which has seen tiger translocations and successful breeding, is now home to seven tigers, including cubs born under the reintroduction programme. The park's management continues to enforce rules against unauthorized grazing to protect the tiger habitat.
