The year ended on a grim note for wildlife conservation in Madhya Pradesh as the state recorded its 55th tiger death on Sunday. The carcass of a male tiger was discovered in a forest area of Sagar district, raising serious concerns about protection measures.
Discovery and Initial Investigation
Local residents from Hilgan village first spotted the lifeless body and promptly alerted the Forest Department. A team swiftly reached the location, which was in the Dhana range under the South Forest Division. Senior officials soon arrived at the scene and established a security cordon around the carcass to facilitate an undisturbed examination.
Veterinary doctors were summoned to conduct the initial check. No external injury marks were found on the tiger's body during this preliminary assessment. The officials stated that a detailed post-mortem examination is underway to determine the exact cause of death. The tiger is estimated to be an eight to ten-year-old male.
It remains unclear how the tiger reached this particular area. The forest department is investigating the animal's movement patterns in the surrounding forests and checking records to see if it had been previously spotted in the Dhana range. There is speculation that the tiger may have originated from the Nauradehi Tiger Reserve.
Mounting Toll and Official Reaction
This incident brings the total number of tiger fatalities in Madhya Pradesh this year to a staggering 55. Reacting strongly to the ongoing crisis, prominent wildlife activist Ajay Dubey highlighted the lack of accountability. "The cycle of tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh shows no sign of stopping," Dubey said. "With 55 tigers lost in the state so far this year, there appears to be no accountability. The discovery of yet another tiger carcass raises serious questions about who will take responsibility for this growing crisis."
The rising deaths have alarmed the state's top forest brass. V N Ambade, the head of the Madhya Pradesh forest department, recently wrote a stern letter to all senior forest officers across the state. In his communication to chief conservators, tiger reserve field directors, divisional officers, and the director of Van Vihar National Park, Ambade directed them to treat wildlife protection as the topmost priority.
He expressed concern that despite repeated instructions, the number of tiger and leopard deaths has increased in recent months. Ambade pointed out that many animals have died due to preventable causes like electrocution, and road and rail accidents.
Calls for Action and Future Plans
The department head's letter included clear directives to prevent future tragedies. Forest officers have been ordered to coordinate with agencies such as the Railways to prepare concrete action plans. Ambade also mandated that all recent wildlife deaths be properly investigated and that strict action be taken against any officials found negligent in their duties.
The situation underscores the persistent challenges in tiger conservation even in a state known as India's 'tiger heartland'. The focus now is on the post-mortem results from Sagar and the effectiveness of the new directives issued to field staff to curb this alarming trend of fatalities.
