A tigress and her last surviving cub died at the Mukki quarantine facility in Madhya Pradesh's Kanha Tiger Reserve on Wednesday, days after three of her cubs perished in quick succession. Officials suspect an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) as the cause. The deaths have pushed the tiger death toll in the state to 30 so far this year.
Details of the Incident
The tigress, identified as T-141 from the Sarhi range, lost three cubs between April 21 and April 25. As her condition deteriorated, forest teams rescued the approximately 8-to-10-year-old tigress and her only surviving cub, aged 15 to 18 months, and shifted them to the Mukki quarantine facility for treatment. Despite efforts, both succumbed.
Post-Mortem and Initial Findings
Acting in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the office of the chief wildlife warden, a team of expert veterinarians conducted the post-mortem. Samples were collected for detailed examination. The initial cause of death was identified as lung infection. The cub's autopsy and disposal of remains were carried out as per protocol on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations point towards CDV, a highly contagious disease that attacks the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems of carnivores. Officials said the lung infection and earlier findings, including empty stomachs in the cubs, are consistent with symptoms associated with the virus. Deputy Director P K Verma stated that although symptoms resemble CDV, samples have been sent for detailed analysis.
Possible Transmission Source
Forest authorities suspect that the tigress and her cubs may have contracted the infection after feeding on a partially eaten kill that had been contaminated by larvae from an infected dog outside the reserve. The possibility of spillover from stray dog populations has left wildlife managers worried.
Containment and Vaccination Efforts
In response, a massive sanitisation and containment operation has been launched on a war footing across the reserve and adjoining buffer areas. Teams have been deployed to disinfect sensitive zones, intensify surveillance, and vaccinate stray and village dogs to break the transmission chain.
Officials said the response aligns with advisories issued earlier by NTCA, which recommend creating immunisation buffers around tiger reserves based on the principle of herd immunity. Vaccinating a large proportion of stray dogs and other susceptible animals can act as a firewall, significantly reducing the risk of transmission to tigers. Empirical data suggests that vaccinating 70–80% of the local animal population can substantially curb the spread of the disease.
Implementation of Protocols
As part of this protocol, authorities are focusing on mass vaccination drives, real-time disease monitoring, and coordination with veterinary and animal husbandry departments. Measures such as removal and safe disposal of carcasses, chemical disinfection of affected areas, and installation of disinfectant points at entry gates are also being implemented. Awareness campaigns have been launched in surrounding villages to report suspected cases and limit interaction between stray animals and wildlife.
