File picture of a Balaghat male tiger at the Kanha Tiger Reserve. Source: www.kanhaearthlodge.com
Three tigers, including two female cubs, have been found dead inside the Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district, officials said on Friday (October 3, 2025), attributing the deaths to territorial fights among big cats.According to officials, the carcass of a 10-year-old male tiger, identified as the ‘Balaghat Male Tiger’, was found in the Mukhi range in the core zone of the Reserve, while the two cubs, aged around two-three months, were found dead at another location in the same range on Thursday (October 2). All three carcasses have been cremated after post mortem examinations.Madhya Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife, Subharanjan Sen, told The Hindu that a preliminary investigation has been conducted as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and any human involvement has been ruled out.“We have also collected various samples like viscera, water from nearby bodies and food consumed by them [the deceased tigers] and have sent [them] for forensic examination,” Mr. Sen said, adding that no snare or traps were found around any of the carcasses.In a statement, the KTR said that the adult male tiger was seen in a fight with another big cat by a patrolling team.“According to information provided by the local patrol team, the [two female] cubs appear to have died from an attack by a male tiger. The scene was secured and searched with the help of a dog squad, and after a post-mortem, cremation/incineration was initiated,” the statement read.Another forest official said that the death of two cubs seems to be the case of a male adult trying to assert his territorial dominance. This is the sixth tiger death in the KTR in 2025, while the three deaths take the State’s overall toll this year to 39 Published - October 03, 2025 02:28 pm IST
