The Madhya Pradesh High Court has instructed the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to submit a comprehensive status report concerning the recent fatalities of tigers within the reserve. This direction comes in light of concerns regarding instances of suspected unnatural deaths and must be completed by February 25.

The order was issued on February 11 by a division bench that included Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf during the proceedings of a petition brought forth by wildlife expert Ajay Dubey.

Petition Highlights Allegations of Negligence

Ajay Dubey filed the petition on January 4, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of tigers in Madhya Pradesh. He raised issues of alleged irregularities in the ongoing inquiry, suggesting that forest officials may have displayed negligence in their duties. The court took note of these concerns during the hearing, where the petitioner’s advocate, Aditya Sanghi, highlighted that additional cases of tiger fatalities due to unnatural causes have been recorded since the last update on January 20, 2026.

Court Acknowledges Human Intervention in Tiger Deaths

In the court’s findings, it was stated that the petitioner presented a chart outlining the causes of predatory deaths. The judges recognized that some instances of mortality resulted from unnatural causes, specifically pointing to human interference.

The court subsequently mandated that the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve file a status report detailing the deaths of tigers reported to date, as well as providing an action report for those fatalities deemed to be caused unnaturally. Furthermore, the report should address the measures taken to bring charges against individuals deemed responsible for these deaths.

Upcoming Hearing Scheduled for February 25

The case is set for further discussion on February 25, allowing the court to assess the status report and any actions initiated as a result of the investigation. In a broader context, it is noteworthy that Madhya Pradesh witnessed a total of 54 confirmed tiger deaths throughout 2025.

Alarmingly, the state has already recorded approximately nine additional tiger deaths attributed to unnatural reasons within just the first month of 2026, raising concerns about the safety of the tiger population in the region.

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