3 min readBhopalApr 26, 2026 07:09 AM IST
Two tiger cubs from the same litter have died within days inside Kanha Tiger Reserve, raising questions over monitoring protocols for breeding tigresses in one of India’s most intensively protected habitats.
The latest cub, estimated to be between one and one-and-a-half years old, was found dead in the Sargi area of the reserve’s core zone Thursday evening. Forest officials said a post-mortem has been conducted and the report is awaited. Another cub from the same tigress had died three days earlier. The tigress had given birth to four cubs; two now remain.
Deputy Director Amitha B confirmed to The Indian Express that two cubs had died recently. “We will conduct a post mortem to ascertain the cause of death,” she said.
While cub mortality in the wild is not uncommon, particularly in the first year, the loss of two sub-adult tigers in quick succession inside a core area designed for minimal disturbance shifts scrutiny to field surveillance and early warning systems. At this age, cubs are typically transitioning to independent feeding but remain dependent on the mother’s hunting success and territorial stability.
Officials have said the tigress and the remaining cubs are being “closely monitored”, but have not detailed the frequency of tracking prior to the deaths or whether any distress indicators such as reduced movement, poor body condition, or declining prey encounters were flagged.
Under standard practice followed by the wildlife officials across reserves, a tigress with cubs triggers heightened surveillance. This is meant to include near-daily monitoring through ground tracking and camera traps, mapping of movement ranges, and regular assessment of prey density within the immediate territory. Any deviation like prolonged absence of the mother, restricted movement, or signs of injury is expected to trigger rapid field verification.
When a cub death occurs, protocol requires immediate securing of the site, forensic documentation, and a time-bound post-mortem conducted by a veterinary team in the presence of officials to establish cause of death. Tissue and viscera samples are to be preserved for toxicology if poisoning or disease is suspected. Parallelly, the remaining litter and the mother are to be placed under intensified observation, often involving round-the-clock tracking to prevent further losses.
