23rd August, Madhya Pradesh
In a distressing incident highlighting the ongoing threats to wildlife, a tiger was found dead with one paw missing in the Narmadapuram district, on the boundary of the Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR), on Friday morning.
The carcass was first discovered submerged in the backwaters of the Tawa River in the Badh Chapda area by a motor patrolling team. STR Field Director Rakhi Nanda confirmed the discovery and stated that a preliminary investigation points toward poaching.
“We suspect it to be a case of poaching after our preliminary investigation. The tiger was caught in a snare,” Nanda told The Hindu newspaper. “We have conducted its post-mortem as per the NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) guidelines and further investigation is now under way.”
The official added that it is yet to be ascertained whether the big cat was killed and then thrown into the water or if the carcass washed into the river from another location. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the wildlife protection act.
This incident is the latest in a series of alarming big cat deaths reported across Madhya Pradesh in recent weeks, raising serious questions about wildlife security and conservation efforts in the state.
Just days earlier, on August 12, a 12-year-old tiger was found dead near the Lagda beat camp in the core area of the STR, with officials attributing the death to a territorial fight. On August 20, a big cat died of electrocution in the Sanjay Tiger Reserve.
A particularly controversial case emerged from the Sonewani Wildlife Sanctuary in Balaghat district, where a tiger was found dead on July 27. Instead of following protocol, some forest officials allegedly cremated the carcass without any documentation or post-mortem.
The matter came to light only after local villagers circulated pictures of the dead animal, prompting higher authorities to suspend a deputy ranger and a forest guard and register a case against six other beat guards. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, who reported the Balaghat incident to senior officials, highlighted the negligence.
The spate of deaths—five or six reported in just 20-25 days—prompted the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Vijay Kumar Ambade, to write a stern letter to forest officials across the state.
“Despite such a strong system, so many deaths of tigers and leopards in a short time raises questions on the forest and wildlife conservation system,” Ambade wrote. He termed the Balaghat incident “extremely shameful and regrettable” and called for top priority to be given to forest and wildlife protection.
Echoing these concerns, activist Ajay Dubey stated that the recent deaths, regardless of their cause, “expose the intel failure” of the forest department. “During monsoon, there are very few tourists visiting the forests which is why preventive action and proactive patrolling is required as the risk of poaching increases. But the recent incidents clearly show the lack of seriousness of officials,” he added.
The incident has cast a shadow over conservation efforts in a state known for its significant tiger population, underscoring an urgent need for strengthened vigilance and accountability within the forest department.