Tiger deaths in MP: Kanha reserve loses 3 big cats in single day

Mandla: Carcasses of a tiger and two female cubs were found dead in different parts of Madhya Pradesh's Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) on Thursday and were disposed of after post-mortem examinations revealed they were killed by other big cats, an official said on Friday.

The adult tiger, identified as the "Balaghat Male Tiger" and aged around eight to 10 years, was found dead in the Mukhi range. Weighing between 170 and 180 kg, it had sustained fatal wounds to its trachea, indicating death due to a territorial fight with another big cat. The tiger had been sighted frequently by visitors and had recently moved from the buffer to the core area, likely intruding into another tiger’s territory.

The two female cubs, approximately two months old, were found dead in the Kanha range. Officials confirmed they were killed by an adult tiger. The carcasses were cremated in accordance with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.

The Kanha Tiger Reserve, which spans into the Naxal-affected Balaghat district, is home to 137 tigers—the highest in Madhya Pradesh. The state hosts 785 tigers, the largest population in India as per the 2022 census.

With inputs from PTI