Two More Tigers Die in Kanha: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a detailed probe into the death of two more tigers in the Kanha Tiger Reserve, one of the most famous wildlife habitats in India. This follows concerns over rising tiger deaths in the state which has the largest tiger population in the country.
High Court Calls For Report
The High Court called for a report from the forest department on the circumstances surrounding the two most recent tiger deaths during a hearing into tiger deaths across Madhya Pradesh. This means the court has now asked for a report to be provided on the death of multiple tigers in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and other protected forests.
The bench has been asking officials to provide information on the investigation process, what has been done to prevent further deaths and what measures are being taken to prevent suspicious deaths.
Why Is Kanha Tiger Reserve Important?
Kanha Tiger Reserve is one of the most iconic tiger reserves in India and plays a key role in Project Tiger. It spans around 940 square kilometres across the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, and is famous for its Bengal tigers, barasingha, leopards, sloth bears and dholes.
It is famous for being responsible for bringing back the endangered hard ground barasingha, making it one of the most important conservation success stories in India.
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What’s Going On With The Recent Deaths?
The recent deaths in Kanha are not an isolated issue.
Earlier this year, wildlife conservationists raised concerns with the High Court over the rising number of tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh. They claimed that many of the deaths were due to electrocution, poaching and other unnatural causes.
The petition stated:
- There were 54 tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh in 2025. The highest number ever recorded since the start of Project Tiger.
- Over half of the deaths were due to unnatural causes.
- Madhya Pradesh currently supports around 785 tigers, making it the largest tiger habitat in India.
Tigers Dying From Electrocution
One of the main concerns being raised by the court is the increasing number of tigers dying from coming into contact with illegal live traps using electricity, placed near agricultural fields.
The state government told the High Court that several tigers died recently outside of protected areas in Bandhavgarh due to electrocution. Previously investigators have found cases of illegal wiring being used to trap wild boars, accidentally killing tigers who wandered into farming land.
