Complying with a Madhya Pradesh High Court order, the field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) submitted a detailed report on the deaths of tigers in the reserve and adjacent areas since November 2025. The report revealed that a total of eight tigers had died between November 2025 and February 24, 2026. Out of these, four tigers died within the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, while the other four died in the neighboring territorial forest division outside the reserve boundary.
The report stated that the deaths of the four tigers within the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve were attributed to natural causes such as diseases, territorial fights, drowning, and electrocution. Specifically, three tigers died due to live electric wires in an open field, and one was entangled in a solar power electric fence. Additionally, the report mentioned that two tigers died in the Umaria forest division, and two in the Shahdol North forest division due to electrocution.
The report also confirmed that there was no evidence of poaching in the reported cases from November 25 to February 24. The field director emphasized that the deaths occurred due to biological and ecological factors inherent in the wildlife population within the reserve and were not a result of negligence or poaching activities.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court had requested this detailed report following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dube through senior advocate Aditya Sanghi. The report aimed to address concerns raised about the decline in tiger numbers, with a focus on organized poaching and deaths due to electrocution. Responding to these concerns, the report clarified that the available data did not support the allegations of negligence leading to tiger deaths in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
Dube, in response to the report, expressed disappointment over the weak surveillance and intelligence network in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and its adjoining territorial forests. He highlighted that this weakness had resulted in the tragic deaths of three tigers due to electrocution from electric wires, with one case leading to the accused being granted default bail due to negligence by the Umaria Forest Department.
