The Madhya Pradesh High Court received a status report from the field director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, highlighting alarming revelations regarding the death of eight tigers in a short span of just two and a half months, from November 21, 2025, to February 2, 2026. This incident has called into question the state government’s claims of effective wildlife conservation. According to the report, four of the tigers died from natural causes within the reserve, while the remaining four were electrocuted in adjacent forest areas. Notably, the report emphasized that the tiger carcasses were found to be intact, suggesting a need for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

The report details the deaths in two segments: inside the tiger reserve, where four tigers were declared to have died from natural causes, and outside in the general forest area, where the other four fatalities resulted from electrocution. Among the fatalities within the reserve, two tigers were killed during fights with each other, one succumbed to illness, and another drowned in a well. Meanwhile, the report raises questions regarding the circumstances of the deaths that occurred in non-protected areas, now highlighting potential negligence or threats to tigers outside the protected environments, which is vital for ensuring their survival.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has filed a petition questioning the state government and forest department's actions on this matter, calling for accountability and stricter regulations to protect the wild tiger population. The pattern of multiple deaths in such a short time frame underscores the need for urgent intervention to address both the natural habitats and the infrastructure around tiger reserves to mitigate risks posed to these endangered species. This tragic event spotlights the importance of effective wildlife management and continues to raise concerns about the viability of tiger conservation in India.