The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the state government to submit a detailed status report on all nine of its tiger reserves following the recent deaths of eight big cats at the Kanha Tiger Reserve.
The division bench of Justices Anand Pathak and B P Sharma issued the directive on Thursday during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) focused on the fatalities, which are suspected to have been caused by Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 17.
Court Demands Comprehensive Prevention Strategy
During the proceedings, state officials reported that 2,000 dogs living in the areas surrounding Kanha have already been vaccinated against CDV. However, the bench emphasized the need for a comprehensive prevention plan rather than localized efforts.
The court directed the government to ensure full compliance with all Supreme Court mandates regarding tiger reserves. Additionally, the administration must outline systematic measures to prevent infections and manage canine vaccinations across all nine reserves in the state. The bench also instructed authorities to quickly fill vacant wildlife veterinarian positions in all reserves and establish effective canine birth control programs.
Details of the Fatalities
The PIL was initiated by Mumbai-based attorney Subrat Chakraborty, who was represented in court by advocates Anshuman Singh and Prateek Rusia.
According to the petition, the eight tiger deaths occurred during April and May at the Kanha Tiger Reserve. The casualties included two tigresses, designated T-122 (Sunaina) and T-141 (Amahi), alongside Amahi’s four sub-adult cubs and a young male tiger, T-220 (Mahavir). Citing concerns over a potential CDV outbreak, the petitioner requested the implementation of enhanced biosecurity protocols, stronger scientific monitoring, and improved veterinary facilities.
Rising Big Cat Mortalities
The legal intervention comes amid high rates of tiger mortality in the state. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey reported that 40 tigers have died in Madhya Pradesh since January, following 55 deaths recorded over the course of last year.
According to the national census conducted in 2022, Madhya Pradesh was home to 785 tigers, the largest population of the species among all Indian states.
