43 Tiger Deaths in Madhya Pradesh | 06 Aug 2024

Why in News?

The deaths of 43 tigers between 2021 and 2023 were investigated, with 34 deaths in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and 9 in Shahdol Forest Circle.

Special Investigation Team (SIT) Report: The SIT, headed by State Tiger Strike Force in-charge, submitted its report to the acting Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest & Head of the Forest Force (PCCF-HoFF) on July 15.
Lack of Investigation: The report highlighted insufficient investigation into at least 10 tiger death cases, disinterest by higher authorities and Forest Range Officers, and missing body parts in 10 out of 34 cases.
Formation of SIT: The SIT was formed on the orders of the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden to investigate the high number of tiger deaths.

It is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and is spread over the Vindhya hills.
In 1968, it was notified as a national park and in 1993 was declared a tiger reserve- under the Project Tiger Network at the neighbouring Panpatha Sanctuary.
It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India as well as in the world.
- These streams then merge into the Son river (an important southern tributary to the river Ganga).
The important prey species consists of chital, sambhar, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig, chowsingha, langur and rhesus macaque.
- Dependent upon them are the major predators like tiger, leopard, wild dog, wolf and jackal.