Vehicles seized after motorists mob tiger on Tadoba road for pics and videos

A viral video of a tiger being surrounded by motorists on a forest road has escalated into a serious wildlife offence investigation , with authorities now pursuing identification of the accused, vehicle seizure, and stricter enforcement , as new details reveal the animal was a sub-adult cub forced to retreat under pressure from crowds .

The incident took place on the Padmapur–Moharli road near the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district. According to officials and subsequent reports, the tiger—believed to be a sub-adult offspring of a tigress locally known as “Chhoti Madhu” —was attempting to cross the road when multiple vehicles stopped, and people got down, approached, and filmed the animal at close range , obstructing its movement.

A case has been registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the probe is being led by local forest officials. Authorities have appealed to the public to help identify those seen in the video , underlining the seriousness of the violation. Officials also warned that vehicles involved in blocking wildlife corridors may be seized , signalling a tougher crackdown beyond routine penalties.

Wildlife experts and conservationists have strongly condemned the incident, describing the behaviour as “mob-like” and dangerously provocative , noting that the tiger appeared distressed and was trying to move away from the crowd. They cautioned that such actions could easily trigger mock charges or real attacks , putting both humans and animals at risk.

The forest department reiterated that the incident did not occur inside the safari zone but along a public road cutting through the buffer area , where villages, tourist movement, and forest habitat overlap. However, officials stressed that this landscape still supports a high density of tiger movement , making adherence to safety norms critical.

The growing pattern of reckless wildlife encounters on this stretch , which has effectively turned into an unregulated tiger-viewing corridor . Despite fines, CCTV monitoring, and patrols, visitors frequently stop vehicles, crowd animals, and attempt close-up photography, undermining conservation efforts.

The incident also comes against a wider backdrop of rising human–tiger conflict in Chandrapur , one of the world’s most densely populated tiger regions. The district hosts over 250 tigers , but this success has been accompanied by frequent encounters and fatalities, with multiple deaths reported in recent months alone.

Officials warned that such reckless behaviour not only disturbs wildlife but may provoke conflict situations where both humans and animals pay the price , citing past instances where repeated disturbance altered tiger behaviour.

Reiterating safety protocols, authorities urged motorists to stay inside vehicles, avoid crowding or chasing animals, and respect wildlife corridors , warning that violations will invite strict legal action as surveillance and enforcement are stepped up across the region.