Alarm in the Wild: Third Tiger Cub Dies in Kanha, 24 Fatalities Since January in MP

The forests of Madhya Pradesh, often celebrated as India’s tiger heartland, are now witnessing a worrying pattern . In the past five days alone, three tiger cubs have been found dead in the Sarhi zone of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, raising fresh concerns about the survival of young big cats in one of the country’s most iconic wildlife habitats.

The latest discovery, a female cub found lifeless on Saturday evening, has deepened the sense of unease among forest officials. The cub’s body has been sent for postmortem to determine the precise cause of death. What is more troubling is that all three cubs belonged to the same tigress (T-141) from the Amahi area.

The sequence of deaths paints a grim picture. A male cub was first found dead on April 21 near Amahi nulla, followed by another male cub on April 23 in a decomposed condition near Intawara nulla. All three cubs were barely a year old. With one cub still unaccounted for, authorities are now closely monitoring the situation, fearing the worst.

Preliminary assessments suggest a deeper issue. Officials suspect that the tigress may be weak and struggling to hunt , possibly leading to starvation among the cubs . As a preventive measure, the tigress is now being monitored and provided supplementary food to stabilise her condition. However, the exact cause will only be confirmed after detailed investigation reports.

This incident is not isolated. Across Madhya Pradesh, a total of 24 tiger deaths have been reported since January . Alarmingly, ten of these deaths occurred after April 2 alone . Even within Kanha, the toll has climbed, with four deaths recorded this month, including an adult tigress that reportedly died due to infighting .

These developments come despite Madhya Pradesh holding the highest tiger population in India (785 as per the 2022 census) . The rising fatalities now raise critical questions about habitat pressures, prey availability, and the challenges of sustaining such a large population.

For now, the dense forests of Kanha carry a quieter, heavier silence, one that signals not just loss, but a warning.