An entire tiger family, including a tigress and her four sub-adult cubs, has died within nine days at the Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh. Authorities suspect Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) caused their death.
The exact cause, however, is yet to be ascertained, as final reports on viscera samples of the deceased felines are awaited.
According to Madhya Pradesh Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests L Krishnamoorthy, the possibility of the highly contagious and fatal viral infection canine distemper is also suspected to be the cause of the deaths. He, however, said the actual cause would be confirmed only after all investigation reports are received.
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey said there was a high possibility that the deaths were due to CDV.
“Villagers go to KTR to collect Mahua in March, chironji in April, and tendu leaves in May and June. They take several dogs with them for safety. Thus, the possibility of tigers contracting CDV is very high,” Dubey told The Statesman on Saturday.
The five deaths, though tragic, are alarming and occurred between April 21 and 29.
The first cub died on 21 April, the decomposed carcass of the second was recovered on 24 April, and the third cub, a female, died on 25 April.
The KTR authorities tranquilised and rescued the mother and the last remaining cub on 27 April, and brought them for treatment at the quarantine facility in the Mukki area of KTR.
Despite efforts by veterinarians, the mother, identified as T-141, died during treatment in the morning of 29 April, while her last cub also succumbed the same evening while undergoing treatment.
The tigress was around 8 years old, while its deceased cubs were around a year old.
With these five deaths, the number of tiger deaths in KTR has risen to six in April, including an adult tigress that died on April 5 in the Kanhari beat.
Madhya Pradesh, which had 785 tigers as per the 2022 census, the highest in the country, has lost 27 tigers, including cubs, since January 7 this year, when the first death of 2026 was reported in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
According to available information, wild tiger deaths linked to CDV were first reported in Russia more than 20 years ago.
Tigers are thought to contract CDV through direct contact with infected animals, such as by feeding on infected carnivores, through infected dogs, or through contact with other infected tigers.
The virus initially causes respiratory and gastrointestinal disease, but can progress to infect the central nervous system. It is considered highly fatal.