Cub dies of starvation in Kanha, tiger found dead in Balaghat; toll rises to 25 in MP this yr

Bhopal: The tiger death toll in Madhya Pradesh has reached 25 this year after a cub was found dead in Kanha Tiger Reserve in Mandla and another tiger death was reported under suspicious circumstances in Balaghat district.In Kanha, a male tiger cub was found dead near Bada Amahi Nala in the Sarhi–Nakan beat area of the Sarhi forest range during routine monitoring on Friday. Its sibling had been found dead earlier on Tuesday, raising concern over the survival of the litter.Forest officials cordoned off the area and carried out a search operation as per NTCA protocols, with assistance from a trained dog squad. During the operation, the cub's mother and remaining siblings were sighted nearby, indicating the family group was still present in the area.A post-mortem was conducted by veterinary teams from Jabalpur, Motinala and Bichhiya. Preliminary findings showed no external injuries or signs of poaching, with all internal organs intact. However, the stomach was found empty, suggesting the cub had not eaten for a considerable period. Officials suspect starvation or illness as a possible cause.In a separate incident, a tiger carcass was found in Compartment No 1618 of Jatta Beat in the East Baihar range under Balaghat Forest Division. Officials said the carcass was found with missing canine teeth, raising suspicion over the cause of death. The site was secured and searched extensively under NTCA guidelines and directions of the chief wildlife warden.A post-mortem by wildlife expert Dr Amol Rokade confirmed that except for the teeth, all other body parts were intact. A case has been registered and a detailed probe is underway to determine the exact cause of death.