Bhopal: The death of another tiger in Kanha Tiger Reserve has pushed the number of tiger fatalities in Madhya Pradesh to 34 this year, intensifying concerns about wildlife safety in the state. Kanha alone has now recorded eight tiger deaths, the highest among all tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh.
Latest Incident in Mukki Range
A male tiger, estimated to be five to six years old, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Mukki range of Kanha Tiger Reserve on Tuesday. The carcass was discovered in compartment number 156 of Mohgaon beat during a monitoring operation initiated after forest officials received reports of an injured and ailing tiger in the area.
Response and Investigation
Senior forest officials, wildlife veterinarians, and field staff promptly arrived at the scene and secured the area following protocols set by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). A dog squad was also deployed to examine the site for any clues.
According to officials, the post-mortem examination revealed injury marks on the tiger's body along with signs of a lung infection. However, all body parts, including canines, claws, and whiskers, were found intact, ruling out the possibility of poaching. Viscera and tissue samples have been preserved for forensic examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Canine Distemper Virus Not Implicated
Forest authorities stated that the canine distemper virus (CDV), which was linked to the deaths of four tiger cubs and a tigress in Kanha last month, does not appear to be the immediate cause in this latest case. Officials added that the final cause of death will be confirmed only after detailed forensic and laboratory reports are received.
Rising Tiger Mortality in Kanha
The latest incident has once again highlighted the increasing tiger mortality in Kanha Tiger Reserve. Following the recent CDV outbreak, forest authorities had quarantined nearly two square kilometers of the affected forest area, vaccinated dogs in eight nearby villages, and temporarily sealed water sources in the infected zone to prevent the spread of infection to other wildlife species.
This series of deaths underscores the ongoing challenges in tiger conservation and the need for enhanced monitoring and disease prevention measures in the region.
