Umaria (Madhya Pradesh):
Amid continuing deaths of tigers and leopards in and around Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR), the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alarming incidents reported over the last two months. Bandhavgarh, one of the nine tiger reserves in the “Tiger State” of Madhya Pradesh, has the highest density of tigers in the state.
The SIT was constituted on January 19 by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) V.K. Ambade, just a day before the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued notices to the central and state governments and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The notices followed a petition by Bhopal-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, highlighting the deaths of 54 tigers in Madhya Pradesh in 2025, the highest annual toll since the launch of Project Tiger in 1973.
Taking serious note of the recurring fatalities in BTR and adjoining areas, Ambade ordered the formation of the SIT, which will be headed by the Conservator of Forests, Shahdol Region. The team also includes the in-charge of the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF), the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Anuppur, and Katni-based advocate and wildlife conservationist Manjula Srivastava.
“The situation is serious and alarming, particularly as the tiger population density in Bandhavgarh is comparatively higher. Prima facie, the possibility of negligence on the part of departmental staff and officials cannot be ruled out,” Ambade stated in the order.
Notably, a similar SIT had investigated tiger deaths in Bandhavgarh in 2024. The newly formed team will review the previous SIT report to assess whether the same lapses or causes contributed to the recent deaths.
The order further notes that recent fatalities were reportedly linked to snare traps, open wells, and cases of sudden disappearance of tigers from their territories followed by deaths outside the reserve.
The SIT has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation into each tiger and leopard mortality. If negligence by any staff or official is established, their details will be recorded in the report. The team will also submit practical recommendations and a concrete action plan to prevent future incidents. The SIT has been given 15 days to submit its findings.
According to the NTCA’s latest nationwide tiger mortality data, 13 tiger deaths were reported across India in the first 18 days of the year, with at least four from Madhya Pradesh. Significantly, three of these deaths—on January 7, January 8, and January 16—occurred within Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, further intensifying concerns over protection and management in one of India’s most crucial tiger habitats
