MP High Court Intervenes in Bandhavgarh Tiger Death Crisis
A division bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur has taken a stern stance on the alarming rate of tiger fatalities in the state. On Wednesday, the court directed the field director of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to present a comprehensive report detailing the circumstances surrounding tiger deaths within the reserve and adjacent areas. This directive comes in response to shocking information presented to the court, revealing that 10 tigers have perished in Madhya Pradesh since the beginning of 2026, with six of these deaths occurring in the Shahdol division, where Bandhavgarh is located.
Unnatural Causes and Rising Mortality Rates
The court was informed that none of these recent tiger deaths were due to natural causes. Instead, they resulted from electrocution or other unnatural means, highlighting a severe threat to wildlife conservation efforts. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, issued this order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey. The PIL focuses on the 54 tiger deaths recorded in Madhya Pradesh in 2025, a number described in the petition as the highest since the inception of Project Tiger in 1973.
In his petition, Dubey provided critical context on tiger populations, noting that out of a global total of 5,421 tigers, India is home to 3,176, with Madhya Pradesh accounting for 785 of these. Despite being hailed as the "tiger state," MP has witnessed a disturbing upward trend in tiger fatalities. Dubey cited official data showing 43 tiger deaths in 2022, 45 in 2023, and 46 in 2024, with the number spiking to 54 in 2025. He emphasized that these deaths often occur under suspicious and mysterious circumstances, raising serious concerns about conservation efforts.
Poaching and Systemic Failures
Citing official data from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Dubey revealed that 57% of tiger deaths are unnatural, with causes including poaching, electrocution, and other factors. He pointed out that the presence of poachers within supposedly safe tiger reserves is a grave concern, undermining conservation initiatives. The petition highlighted a recent joint operation by the MP State Tiger Strike Force and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, which led to the arrest of Yangchen Lachungpa, described as the kingpin of an international poaching gang, near the international border in Sikkim.
Dubey further alleged that poachers are using live electric wires to kill tigers inside reserve areas, a method that indicates a failure in the forest department's surveillance and intelligence systems. This systemic lapse has allowed such criminal activities to persist, endangering the state's tiger population and its reputation as a conservation leader.
Court's Timely Response and Future Steps
Following the hearing, counsel representing the central government requested four weeks to file a reply to the petition. However, the court granted only two weeks, underscoring the urgency of the matter. Additionally, the court mandated a report from the field director of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on tiger deaths in and around the reserve, aiming to gather firsthand insights into the crisis. Senior counsel Aditya Sanghi represented the petitioner during the proceedings.
This judicial intervention marks a critical step in addressing the escalating tiger mortality in Madhya Pradesh. By demanding accountability and detailed reporting, the MP High Court seeks to uncover the root causes of these deaths and implement measures to protect one of India's most iconic wildlife species. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for tiger conservation policies not only in Madhya Pradesh but across India, as efforts intensify to combat poaching and enhance wildlife protection mechanisms.
