Three Tigers Found Dead in Kanha Reserve: Evidence Points to Territorial Conflicts

The carcass of an adult tiger was discovered in the Mukhi range of Kanha Tiger Reserve on Thursday.

Mandla (MP):

Three tiger deaths were reported within a 24-hour period at Madhya Pradesh's Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR), with post-mortem examinations revealing that all three felines succumbed to injuries inflicted by other tigers, officials confirmed on Friday.

The adult male tiger, estimated to be between eight and ten years old, was identified as the popular "Balaghat Male Tiger" - a frequent sight for visitors to the reserve. The big cat, weighing approximately 170-180 kg, was found dead in the Mukhi range with significant wounds to its trachea, indicating it died following a territorial conflict with another tiger.

According to reserve officials, the tiger had recently been observed in the buffer zone before apparently venturing into the core area, where it likely encountered a territorial rival that proved fatal.

The Kanha Tiger Reserve extends into Balaghat district, a region known for Naxal activity that borders Mandla district.

In addition to the adult male, two female tiger cubs were discovered deceased in the Kanha range on the same day. Investigations determined they had been killed by an adult tiger, further highlighting the natural but sometimes brutal dynamics of tiger populations.

Following established protocol, all three carcasses were disposed of in accordance with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.

Recent census data shows that Kanha Tiger Reserve hosts the highest tiger population in Madhya Pradesh with 137 big cats. The state itself is home to 785 tigers - the largest population in India according to the 2022 tiger census.