A third tiger cub has been found dead in Kanha National Park, raising fresh concerns about wildlife survival in the reserve. The cub, belonging to the same tigress, was discovered in the Sarhi zone on April 26, marking the third loss from the same litter within just five days.
Forest officials believe the deaths may be linked to starvation or the tigress’s inability to hunt effectively, and have ruled out infanticide for now. The tigress and her remaining cub are reportedly in critical condition and are currently being monitored inside a controlled enclosure under the supervision of veterinary experts.
Earlier, two male cubs were found dead on April 21 and 23, followed by the discovery of a female cub’s carcass in the Amahi nullah area of the Sarhi range. Officials suspect that limited food availability may have prevented the tigress from sustaining her cubs, leading to the consecutive fatalities.
The latest incident was reported from the Umarpani area under Sarhi Circle. Authorities quickly secured the location and conducted an extensive search operation with the help of elephants. The cub’s body has been sent for post-mortem and forensic analysis, with samples collected to determine the exact cause of death.
Forest officials continue to closely monitor the tigress and any surviving cubs. These incidents have pushed Madhya Pradesh’s tiger death count to 24 this year, highlighting ongoing challenges in wildlife conservation.
