MP loses 36th tiger this yr, to poaching in Chhindwara; 5 held

Bhopal: State forest officials have detained five tribal men from Chhindwara district for allegedly trapping and killing a tiger in Narsinghpur’s Kareli area, cutting it up for its skin, skull, whiskers and claws, and trying to sell the body parts for Rs 20 lakh to people for occult rituals. The killing has pushed the state’s tiger death toll this year to 36.

The suspects, all residents of the Jamunapani region in Harrai area of Chhindwara district, were detained following intelligence inputs while allegedly attempting to strike a deal for the tiger parts. Forest officials said a covert operation was launched in which decoy buyers were sent to establish contact with the group before they were rounded up.

Chhindwara divisional forest officer (DFO) Swaroop Dixit confirmed the development and said the suspects are being questioned for further details.

“We received intelligence inputs regarding the sale of tiger body parts. Teams worked discreetly and mixed with the gang. Decoy consumers were sent to establish contact before action was taken. All suspects are from the Jamunapani region in Harrai and are being questioned,” Dixit told TOI.

Officials said one of the suspects is a repeat offender and had earlier been booked in a tiger poaching case. Investigators suspect the tiger was trapped using a clutch wire, a deadly snare often laid along the tiger corridor, before being killed and butchered for body parts.

Forest officials believe the tiger, a sub-adult female, was killed around 15 days ago, though forensic examination is underway to establish its age and identity. Officials are also trying to understand how the suspects tracked the tiger’s movement in Kareli, an area where tiger presence is relatively rare. Investigators suspect the group may have monitored the animal’s movement or received prior information.

The Chhindwara-Seoni belt has witnessed several tiger killings in recent years, many allegedly linked to superstition spread by sorcerers.

Forest officials said awareness campaigns have repeatedly been conducted to counter such myths, but illegal wildlife trade and deep-rooted superstitions continue to fuel poaching in parts of the region.