Shepherd found dead near Kanha National Park, Tiger attack suspected

A shepherd was found dead near the forested fringes of Kanha National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district on Sunday, with forest officials suspecting a tiger attack.

The deceased was identified as Pancham Dhurve, a resident of Katanga Mal village located close to the Sarhi forest zone. According to officials, Dhurve had gone into the forest with his buffaloes on Friday but did not return. His family later reported him missing at the Bichhiya police station.

Following a search operation, his body was recovered on Sunday near a forest stream in the Sarhi zone. Bichhiya range officer Avinash Jain said the exact cause of death would be established after the post-mortem examination, the report of which is awaited.

“Initial inspection suggests that he was killed by a wild animal. Tiger movement has been reported in the area where the body was found,” Jain told PTI, adding that the circumstances point towards a possible tiger attack.

Officials clarified that the spot where the body was found lies outside the official boundary of Kanha National Park. Spread over more than 1,000 square kilometres across Mandla and Balaghat districts, KNP is recognised as the largest national park in central India and is known for its significant tiger population.

Forest authorities are continuing to monitor the area and have urged villagers living near forest zones to remain cautious until the post-mortem findings confirm the cause of death.