MP High Court Orders Report on Tiger Deaths in Bandhavgarh Reserve After 10 Fatalities in 2026 Spark Alarm
Judicial Scrutiny Over Rising Tiger Deaths in Madhya Pradesh
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has stepped in to address the alarming rise in tiger deaths across the state, directing the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to submit a detailed report on recent fatalities. The order was issued on Wednesday, 23 February 2026, by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.
Rising Tiger Deaths Spark Court Intervention
The petition highlighted that 10 tigers have died in Madhya Pradesh since January 2026, including six deaths in Shahdol division and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Officials confirmed that none of these deaths were natural, with causes linked to electrocution and other unnatural factors.
The court instructed the Field Director to provide a comprehensive report on the fatalities, noting that the majority occurred within or near Bandhavgarh, one of India’s most prominent tiger reserves.
Historical Trend of Tiger Fatalities
Dubey’s petition underscored Madhya Pradesh’s troubling record of tiger deaths in recent years:
2022: 43 tigers
2023: 45 tigers
2024: 46 tigers
2025: 54 tigers — the highest since the launch of Project Tiger in 1973
Madhya Pradesh, often referred to as “Tiger State”, is home to 785 tigers, representing a significant share of India’s 3,176 tiger population and the global population of 5,421. Despite this status, official data from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve shows that 57% of tiger deaths were unnatural, caused by poaching, electrocution, or external factors.
Poaching and Illegal Practices
The rise in fatalities has been linked to poaching inside protected reserves. Recently, Yangchen Lachungpa, identified as the kingpin of an international poaching gang, was arrested near the Sikkim international border in a joint operation by the MP State Tiger Strike Force and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
Dubey alleged that poachers are increasingly using live electric wires to kill tigers, exposing failures in forest department surveillance and intelligence systems.
Court Directives
During the hearing, counsel for the central government requested four weeks to file a reply to the PIL. However, the bench granted only two weeks, directing the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to submit a detailed report on tiger deaths in and around the reserve.
Senior counsel Aditya Sanghi appeared for the petitioner, stressing the urgency of judicial intervention to safeguard tiger populations in Madhya Pradesh.
Significance of the Case
The High Court’s intervention highlights:
The seriousness of unnatural tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh.
The need for stronger anti-poaching measures and surveillance systems.
Judicial emphasis on accountability within forest and wildlife departments.
The case has drawn national attention, reinforcing the importance of protecting India’s tiger reserves and ensuring that conservation efforts remain effective against rising threats.
