Madhya Pradesh Forest Department Initiates Emergency Action Following Alarming Tiger Deaths
The Forest Department in Madhya Pradesh has taken drastic and immediate measures in response to a distressing surge in tiger fatalities across the state. This year alone, 10 tigers have already been killed, with two recent deaths reported in Shahdol district, prompting urgent wildlife conservation interventions.
Recent Tragic Incidents in Shahdol District
Officials confirmed that the carcasses of two big cats were discovered in the Banchachar village area within the Jaisinghnagar range of Shahdol's North Forest division. A tigress was found dead on Sunday evening, followed by a male tiger located approximately 100 meters away on Monday morning. Forest Department teams swiftly launched extensive search operations in the aftermath.
According to Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) L Krishnamoorthy, preliminary investigations suggest one tiger died in a territorial conflict, while the other succumbed to electrocution. "We are not ruling out poaching possibilities in the electrocution case until final investigations conclude," Krishnamoorthy stated. Authorities have identified individuals responsible for the electrocution incident and plan to file cases against them, though they claim the electric wire was erected to protect crops.
Historical Context of Tiger Mortality in Madhya Pradesh
The current crisis follows an unprecedented year for tiger deaths in the state. Until December 2025, Madhya Pradesh recorded 55 tiger fatalities – the highest number since Project Tiger's inception in 1973. Comparative data reveals:
- 2024: 46 tiger deaths
- 2023: 45 tiger deaths
- 2022: 43 tiger deaths
- 2021: 34 tiger deaths
Officials estimate that 11 of last year's 55 deaths resulted from unnatural causes, with approximately eight attributed to electrocution from illegal traps set by villagers to safeguard crops. January 2026 alone witnessed eight tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh, including a cub, with five fatalities at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and three at Pench Tiger Reserve.
Comprehensive Forest Department Response Strategy
In Shahdol and other vulnerable forest divisions, field staff have received instructions to implement continuous line-patrolling along crop-forest boundaries, particularly in irrigated areas where farmers install power lines. Teams are conducting daily evening and early morning operations to physically trace and remove loose, illegally drawn live wires during peak wildlife movement periods.
The Forest Department has also initiated rapid vulnerability mapping of irrigation stretches around Shahdol and adjacent ranges. Beat guards and range officers are creating detailed field-level maps identifying pump connections, seasonal irrigation channels, and known crop-raiding corridors, designating these as priority patrol zones.
Collaborative Efforts with Power Distribution Authorities
Simultaneously, plans are underway to activate joint teams with local power distribution staff to disconnect unauthorized agricultural connections and identify illegally extended lines. "Forest and electricity officials will jointly visit farms where live wires were discovered after recent tiger deaths, documenting pump and cable layouts while issuing notices for unsafe wiring," explained a wildlife official.
Krishnamoorthy noted that increased irrigation activities during this period might explain the spike in electrocution-related tiger deaths. "We have identified all potentially threatening live wires and are surveying vulnerable stretches where irrigation is active to prevent recurrence," the officer emphasized.
Judicial Scrutiny and Ongoing Concerns
On January 20, 2026, the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued notices to both central and state governments regarding the escalating tiger death toll. The court is hearing a petition filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey concerning last year's tiger fatalities, highlighting growing legal and public scrutiny over conservation efforts.
The Forest Department's multi-pronged approach – combining enhanced patrolling, vulnerability assessment, inter-agency collaboration, and community engagement – represents a critical response to safeguard Madhya Pradesh's tiger population amid mounting conservation challenges.
