A female tiger from Madhya Pradesh’s Satpura Tiger Reserve was allegedly poisoned to death, triggering the arrest of five people. The decomposed carcass was found buried outside the reserve boundary in the Sangakheda range of the West Chhindwara Division. The tiger had earlier been rehabilitated from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in 2018 and was fitted with a radio collar for monitoring.
Incident and Discovery
Forest officials found the body after tracing the area outside the reserve boundary. The tiger had established its territory beyond the Satpura Tiger Reserve limits. The carcass was in a decomposed state when recovered. The collar was also found burnt, indicating an attempt to destroy evidence.
Alleged Motive
Officials said the tiger had killed cattle belonging to the main accused. In retaliation, the accused and others allegedly mixed urea in the carcass of the kill, which the tiger later consumed. During interrogation, the accused reportedly feared that forest teams might trace the animal through its collar and reach his farm, where illegal opium cultivation was taking place.
Investigation and Arrests
Five people were arrested in the case and remanded to judicial custody. The forest department said the tiger was being monitored through a radio collar. Officials stated that regular monitoring had been reduced because the animal had already established its territory. A team was later sent to retrieve the collar, after which the body was discovered.
Conservation Concerns
The case has raised concerns over human-wildlife conflict, monitoring of collared tigers, and response protocols when a tiger stops moving. It has also renewed debate on compensation for cattle loss, protection of big cats outside reserve boundaries, and the effectiveness of radio collar technology in wildlife conservation.
Last Modified: April 29, 2026