Madhya Pradesh’s identity as a Tiger State is being tarnished by the continuous deaths of tigers in the state. In 2025, the state witnessed the highest number of 56 tiger deaths. In the first 33 days of this year alone, around 11 tigers have lost their lives. The latest case has emerged from Shahdol district, where two tigers died from electric current within 24 hours.
Two Days, Two Bodies: What Happened?
Panic spread in the Jaisinghnagar range of North Shahdol when two adult tiger carcasses were found within just 24 hours (February 1-2, 2026).
On February 1, 2026, a female tigress’s body was found in the forest area of Karpa beat Banchhachar village. The next day, on February 2, a male tiger’s body was found just 100 meters away.
Shahdol North DFO Taruna Verma said, “We recovered the tigress’s body last Sunday between three and four o’clock, and when we reached to examine it, a male tiger’s body was recovered on Monday morning around 7 o’clock.”
The department team was searching for a tiger that had injured another tiger on January 26, 2026. During this search, both tigers walked into illegal electric wires laid in wheat and gram fields. The wires killed them instantly.
DFO confirmed the postmortem findings and the actions taken. She said, “The postmortem report revealed electric shock as the cause of death for the tigers. Four villagers from Karpa village have been arrested in this case. Cases have also been registered against others who had laid electric wires in their fields. Interrogation of all accused is ongoing. The Forest Department has started intensive checking of illegal electric traps in the area.”
Timeline of Shahdol Tiger Tragedy
| February 1, 2026 | Banchachar Beat/Karpa Village | Female Tiger (Tigress) | Territorial Fight |
| February 2 | Just 100 meters away | Male Tiger | Death by Electric Current |
| February 3, 2026 | Jaisinghnagar Range | 3 Little Cubs | Missing (Search Ongoing) |
Three Orphaned Cubs and System’s Lethargy
Three small cubs of the tigress are also missing.
Shahdol Chief Conservator of Forests Mahendra Pratap Singh said, “We are searching for them with elephants and dog squads. They will be rescued soon.”
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey disagrees. He says, “Not finding any trace of them even after 48 hours exposes the department’s sensitive mapping.”
Experts say these young cubs cannot survive in this unsafe forest without their mother. Their chances are nearly zero.
Officials’ Accountability and Activists’ Anger
The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department launched Operation Wild Trap-II on January 10, 2026, which will run until February 15, 2026. The campaign involves removing electric wires and traps laid on forest borders and catching poachers. The Shahdol incident completely contradicts the campaign’s claims. However, answers have been sought from CCF Shahdol in this matter.
Chief Wildlife Warden Shubhranjan Sen said,
“This matter is being investigated. Whoever is guilty, will face action.”
Still, questions are being raised about the Chief Wildlife Warden’s working style after this incident. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has called this situation the pinnacle of administrative negligence. Dubey alleges that the tiger protection structure in the state has completely collapsed. He has demanded that “instead of just suspending small beat guards, strict action should also be taken against Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) level officers.”
On Dubey’s petition, the MP High Court sought answers from the central and state governments on tiger deaths on January 20, 2026.
Tiger Deaths in Madhya Pradesh
Numbers tell the real story. Madhya Pradesh forests are no longer safe for tigers. The year 2025 set a death record. The year 2026 has started even worse.
| Timeline | Tiger Deaths (MP) | Main Causes |
|---|---|---|
| Year 2025 (Full Year) | 56 | Electrocution, Territorial Fights, Disease |
| January 2026 | 09 | Suspected Poaching, Electrocution |
| February 1-2, 2026 | 02 | Double Electrocution in Shahdol |
The Shahdol incident proves that advertisements alone cannot save the Tiger State tag. Tigers keep dying from electric current in fields despite crores spent on technology and cameras. This exposes clear administrative negligence. The real test comes now. The system must decide whether to blame only small employees as always or take action against those senior officers who sit in air-conditioned rooms and make false security claims.
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