BHOPAL: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the continuing deaths of tigers and leopards in and around the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) over the past two months. Among the nine tiger reserves in the “Tiger State” of Madhya Pradesh, BTR has the highest density of tigers.
The SIT was constituted by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) V.K. Ambade on January 19—just a day before the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued notices to the central and state governments, as well as the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The notices were issued in response to a petition filed by Bhopal-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey concerning the deaths of 54 tigers in Madhya Pradesh in 2025, the highest annual tiger mortality recorded since the launch of Project Tiger in 1973.
Taking serious note of the continued deaths of tigers and leopards in and around BTR in Umaria district and adjoining areas over the last two months, Ambade ordered the formation of the SIT, which will be headed by the Conservator of Forests, Shahdol Region. The team will include the in-charge of the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF), the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Anuppur, and Katni-based advocate and wildlife conservationist Manjula Srivastava.
“The situation is serious and alarming, particularly as the number of tigers in BTR is comparatively higher. Prima facie, the possibility of negligence on the part of departmental staff and officials in the recent deaths cannot be ruled out,” Ambade stated in the order.
As a similar SIT had investigated tiger deaths at the same reserve in 2024, the newly constituted team will undertake a detailed review of the previous SIT’s report. “Whether the same lapses or reasons identified by the earlier SIT contributed to the recent deaths will be a key focus of the investigation,” the order said.
The January 19 order noted that the recent deaths were reportedly caused by snare traps, open wells, or sudden disappearance of tigers from their enclosures followed by deaths outside the reserve.
“A detailed investigation into each and every tiger and leopard mortality will be conducted by the SIT. If negligence of staff or officials is detected, the details of the concerned personnel will be included in the report. The SIT will also make concrete and practical recommendations, along with a detailed action plan to address the problem. The team has been given 15 days to submit its report,” the order added.
According to the NTCA’s latest nationwide tiger mortality data, 13 tiger deaths were reported in the first 18 days of the year, at least four of them from Madhya Pradesh, which has the highest tiger population in the country. Of these four deaths, three—on January 7, January 8, and January 16—occurred within the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.