Tigress T-141 Critical In Kanha Quarantine After Losing Three Cubs In Five Days

Tigress T-141 and her lone surviving cub remain in critical but stable condition under quarantine care at Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district, following the deaths of three of her cubs within a span of five days, officials said.

The tigress and the weakened cub were shifted on Sunday from the Sarhi range (Amahi landscape) to a quarantine facility in the Mukki range after being found in an extremely weak condition , with forest staff initiating emergency medical intervention and round-the-clock monitoring.

Officials confirmed both animals are under continuous veterinary supervision , and their condition has not shown significant improvement so far. Blood samples and other diagnostic tests have been sent for laboratory analysis, with results awaited to determine possible causes of illness and mortality.

According to forest department monitoring data, T-141 had given birth to four cubs nearly a year ago . Three of them have now died in quick succession, leaving only one survivor.

The first cub died on April 21 near the Amahi nala in the Sarhi range and was reported to have died due to natural causes , with post-mortem findings indicating an empty stomach , suggesting possible weakness or starvation. The second cub died on April 23 and was found in a decomposed condition near Intawara nala , with drowning suspected as the cause. The third cub died on April 25 due to a lung infection , according to veterinary assessment.

Recent official assessments and parallel reports indicate that all three deceased cubs were around one year old and in a vulnerable sub-adult stage , when dependence on the mother for hunting support is still significant. Preliminary observations suggest the tigress herself may be physically weak and struggling to hunt effectively , raising concerns of insufficient feeding and possible starvation-related stress among the cubs.

Forest officials are also investigating whether environmental stress, illness, or reduced prey intake in the area contributed to the sequence of deaths. Wildlife monitoring teams have intensified surveillance of the tigress group following the incidents.