55 tigers dead in MP this year, highest since Project Tiger launched over 50 years ago, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Madhya Pradesh recorded 55 tiger deaths in 2025, the highest since the launch of Project Tiger in 1973.
• Approximately 11 tiger deaths were attributed to unnatural causes, with electrocution being a primary factor.
• The tiger population in Madhya Pradesh was reported to be 785 in the 'Status of Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India 2022' report.
• A recent tiger death occurred in the Sagar region of Bundelkhand, with investigations ongoing to determine the cause.

Detailed Insights:

• The increase in tiger deaths is attributed to both natural causes like territorial conflicts and age-related mortality, and unnatural causes such as electrocution from illegal traps.
• Farmers use electric fences to protect crops from wild animals, often employing dangerous direct current systems without safety cutoffs, leading to accidental tiger deaths.
• The forest department is investigating whether the tiger found in the Sagar region died from electrocution and was subsequently moved to the location where it was discovered.
• The head of the Madhya Pradesh forest department has directed senior officers to prioritize wildlife protection, warning against negligence in addressing the rising number of tiger and leopard deaths.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Project Tiger: A wildlife conservation project initiated in 1973 to protect tigers in India.
• Electrocution: Death or severe injury caused by electric shock, often due to unsafe electric fencing.
• Territorial Conflict: Competition between animals for resources and space, leading to aggression and mortality.