Tiger found dead in Bandhavgarh; 42 deaths reported in Madhya Pradesh in 6 months

Bhopal, Jul 10 (PTI) The skeleton of a tiger was found in the core area of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Madhya Pradesh's Umaria district, taking the big cat death count in the state this year to 42, officials said on Friday. The skeleton was spotted during monsoon patrolling in Majhkheta beat under the Tala range on Thursday, officials said. Senior reserve officials, including the field director and deputy director, rushed to the spot along with a wildlife health officer and other personnel, an official statement said. A dog squad searched the area, while officials also examined the skeleton using a metal detector, it added. The animal was around six years old and might have died more than a month ago in the deep core area, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve field director Anupam Sahay told PTI over phone. Coincidentally, the skeleton was found on the day the Madhya Pradesh High Court, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), directed the state government to take a slew of measures for tiger protection. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) L Krishnamoorthy confirmed that it was the 42nd tiger death reported in the wild in the state this year. "This is devastating news. Forty-two tigers have died in Madhya Pradesh in six months. Last year, 55 tiger mortalities were reported in the state," wildlife activist Ajay Dubey told PTI. Madhya Pradesh was home to 785 tigers, the highest among states in the country, according to the 2022 tiger census. PTI LAL KRK