Alarming Increase in Tiger Fatalities in Madhya Pradesh Reserve: Report

A report by the forest department, commissioned by the in-charge Principal Conservator of Forests Shubh Ranjan Sen in March of this year has brought to light a concerning surge in tiger deaths in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The report revealed shocking details of negligence and procedural lapses in handling tiger cases, raising serious concerns about wildlife conservation in the region. Madhya Pradesh, known as the ‘Tiger State’, is home to high concentrations of tigers. The order by Mr. Sen prompted the formation of a special committee to investigate tiger deaths from 2021 to 2023.

The three-person committee included Indian Forest Service officer Ritesh Sonfia, Dr. Kajal Jaiswal, and Archana Joshi. The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, known for its high tiger density and diverse wildlife, has experienced a significant increase in mortality among tigers over the past three years. Key causes of tiger deaths identified in the report included electrocution, conflict, disease, old age, organ capture, poisoning, road accidents, and uncertain causes. The report highlighted an overall increase in mortality in 2023, with the highest mortality seen in the Manpur buffer zone.

The report also uncovered procedural lapses and negligence, including inadequate efforts to protect crime scenes and poor maintenance of postmortem records. The increase in tiger population in the Bandhavgarh reserve has been accompanied by a rise in tiger deaths. The report found that developmental activities in and around the reserve, such as road construction and building projects, are contributing to habitat loss and increased territorial conflicts and poaching incidents. The growing tiger population has led to conflicts and fatalities, forcing tigers to move into human-populated regions and preying on livestock, escalating human-tiger conflict incidents.

The report raised serious concerns about the impact of these developmental activities on tiger habitats and the resulting increase in human-tiger conflicts and poaching incidents.