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Tigers Fall to Mysterious Virus in Kanha Reserve
1 May
Summary
- A tigress and her cub died, bringing the state's tiger toll to 30.
- Canine distemper virus is suspected in the deaths of four tigers.
- Sanitization and dog vaccination efforts are underway in the reserve.
A tigress and her sole surviving cub passed away at the Mukki quarantine facility within Madhya Pradesh's Kanha Tiger Reserve. This incident, occurring on Wednesday, brings the state's total tiger fatalities for the year to 30.
These recent deaths are believed to be linked to an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV), a highly contagious disease affecting carnivores' respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. Three other cubs from the same tigress had previously died between April 21 and April 25.
Forest officials suspect the tigress and her cubs may have contracted the virus from contaminated prey. In response, a large-scale sanitization and containment effort has commenced across the reserve and its buffer zones. This includes disinfecting sensitive areas, increasing surveillance, and vaccinating stray dogs to curb the transmission chain.
The operation aligns with advisories from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), emphasizing herd immunity through vaccination of susceptible animals. Measures such as mass vaccination drives, real-time disease monitoring, and public awareness campaigns in surrounding villages are being implemented.
