11 Tiger Deaths In 2026 Put Madhya Pradesh's 'Tiger State' Claim Under Lens

Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 17:27 IST

A radio-collared male tiger, aged around 2.5-3 years, was found dead in the core area of a reserve in Sagar, taking Madhya Pradesh’s tiger deaths to 11 in 2026

Madhya Pradesh, widely known as the ‘Tiger State’ with the highest tiger population in the country at 785, is facing growing concern over a steady rise in tiger deaths. The latest case, involving a young radio-collared tiger found dead in the Veerangana Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve (RDTR), has intensified questions about monitoring, transparency and safety in protected areas.

A radio-collared male tiger, about 2.5-3 years old, was found dead in the core area of the reserve in Sagar district, bringing the number of tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh to 11 since the start of this year (nearly 45 days), underlining the alarming pace of fatalities.

According to PTI, Madhya Pradesh Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests L Krishnamoorthy said the tiger’s death was caused by a territorial fight between two tigers. The carcass was recovered on Sunday evening from the core area of Manegaon beat under the Mohli range. The tiger’s skull was found completely broken, with canine bite marks, a deep injury in the eye, and signs of struggle. One nail of the dead tiger was broken and the others bore scratch marks. Pugmarks of another tiger were found nearby, suggesting a violent clash.

The tiger had been relocated from Kanha Tiger Reserve last month after being re-wilded as an orphan and was being monitored through a satellite radio collar. Sagar Divisional Forest Officer Rajnish Kumar Singh told PTI that the post-mortem was conducted as per National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.

Forest teams grew concerned after the tiger showed no movement for nearly two days. When they reached the location to check, the animal was found dead. This marks the second tiger death in the Sagar region in just 48 days.

The incident has triggered sharp criticism from wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, who has written to the NTCA, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary and the State Principal Chief Conservator of Forests alleging serious negligence by the forest department. As reported by PTI, Dubey claimed the tiger likely died around February 12 but the department did not disclose the incident for several days, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

He said data from the satellite radio collar showed the tiger had remained in the same spot for a long time, but the monitoring team failed to respond promptly or carry out a physical inspection, which is required under NTCA norms. Dubey further alleged that the relocation from Kanha to the Nauradehi landscape, where RDTR is located, was carried out without adequate scientific study or safety measures.

He also linked the incident to the state’s proposed cheetah relocation plans, stating that RDTR is expected to receive cheetahs later this year. If the department cannot protect a closely monitored tiger, he argued, the risk to cheetahs would be even greater. Dubey has demanded that cheetahs not be moved to RDTR until their safety is ensured, and called for a high-level NTCA inquiry into the death and the delay in reporting it, along with strict action against the monitoring team and officers for alleged neglect of duty.

In a petition to the high court, Dubey also claimed that 54 tigers died in Madhya Pradesh in 2025, the highest annual toll since Project Tiger began, with more than half of the deaths attributed to unnatural causes.

The latest death adds to a troubling pattern. Data compiled over the past five years shows a steady rise in tiger fatalities in the state. According to Dubey, 34 tigers died in 2021, 43 in 2022, 45 in 2023, 46 in 2024, and 54 in 2025. In just the first month and a half of 2026, the death toll has already reached 11.

While territorial fights, road accidents, poisoning and electrocution are often cited as the main causes of tiger deaths, conservationists say the repeated losses point to deeper systemic gaps. Despite NTCA guidelines, large budget allocations and claims of strict protection, the rising fatalities are prompting questions about the effectiveness of field monitoring and rapid response systems.

Experts have long stressed the need for stronger on-ground surveillance, more surprise inspections, a robust informer network and strict action in cases of negligence.

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