Overview
- Villagers discovered the carcass near Hilgan in the Dhana range, with officials describing a fully grown male about eight to ten years old, intact and without visible external injuries or a radio collar.
- Investigators are focusing on possible electrocution from live wires or an electric fence used for crop protection, a recurring hazard for dispersing big cats in agricultural landscapes.
- One outlet reported an autopsy indicated electrocution, though authorities have not publicly released definitive forensic findings as the inquiry continues.
- Forest teams secured the site, called veterinarians, engaged a dog squad, and contacted nearby reserves including Nauradehi, Panna, Durgawati, and Ratapani to trace the tiger’s origin.
- The death raises Madhya Pradesh’s 2025 tiger fatalities to 55, the highest since Project Tiger began in 1973, prompting a stern directive from department head V N Ambade warning that negligence will not be tolerated.