Madhya Pradesh Tigers Face Deadly Threat

Madhya Pradesh has recorded an alarming 55 tiger deaths this year, marking the highest toll since the inception of Project Tiger in 1973. The most recent casualty, an adult male tiger, was discovered in the Sagar region of Bundelkhand. Officials found no external injuries on the carcass, initiating a post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death. This incident has prompted serious concern within the state's forest department.

Investigators are examining the tiger's movement patterns and considering the possibility that it dispersed from the nearby Nauradehi Tiger Reserve. A significant focus of the inquiry is the potential role of electric fencing, a pervasive threat to wildlife. Farmers, seeking to protect their crops from herbivores, are increasingly using live electrical wires, which pose a lethal danger to dispersing tigers.

The escalating number of tiger deaths has led to unprecedented action from state forest authorities. The head of the Madhya Pradesh forest department has issued a stern directive to all senior forest officers, emphasizing wildlife protection as a top priority and warning against negligence. This directive highlights concerns over avoidable causes of death, including electrocution and accidents.