Concerns Mount Over Rising Tiger Deaths in Madhya Pradesh

A tragic incident in Madhya Pradesh's Kanha Tiger Reserve has raised alarms with the death of a tiger cub, bringing the state's tiger mortality count to 22 this year. Authorities discovered the carcass in the Sargi region and suspect that maternal neglect might have led to the cub's death by starvation.

Officials await the cub's autopsy results but have noted a similar recent death—a sibling of the deceased cub perished three days prior. The mother tiger initially gave birth to four cubs, two of which have died, prompting intensified monitoring efforts for the remaining two by the reserve's staff.

Prominent wildlife activist Ajay Dubey expressed serious concerns regarding the state's high tiger mortality rates, including both natural and unnatural deaths. Dubey advocates for improved monitoring and accountability within the forest departments, referencing past instances of oversight, such as the delayed discovery of a carcass in the Panna Tiger Reserve.

(With inputs from agencies.)