Big Cat Alliance: Chanda Event to Focus on Tiger Recovery Nagpur: Chandrapur has been chosen to host a tiger conservation programme under the theme “Flagship of India's Forest Conservation” on May 28, ahead of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026, which will take place in June. This event will be one of five thematic conservation programmes organized across the country by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The programmes aim to highlight India’s efforts in protecting its five major big cat species—tigers, Asiatic lions, leopards, snow leopards, and cheetahs. The Chandrapur event will focus specifically on India’s tiger recovery initiatives, including Project Tiger and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). It will also showcase Maharashtra’s work in the Vidarbha region to enhance wildlife corridors and mitigate human-animal conflicts. Officials emphasized that the programme will underscore India’s “remarkable recovery in tiger numbers,” citing scientific monitoring, community involvement, and habitat security as key factors. The ministry highlighted eco-development projects and wildlife tourism initiatives that have created livelihood opportunities for local communities around tiger reserves. India is home to over 70% of the world’s wild tiger population and has become a global leader in tiger conservation, according to the ministry. This success is attributed to sustained efforts such as expanding tiger reserves, deploying camera-trap monitoring systems, installing surveillance infrastructure, combating poaching, and relocating villages from core habitats. The Chandrapur event will serve as a platform to showcase these interventions and their impact on tiger populations.#maharashtra #national_tiger_conservation_authority #international_big_cat_alliance #project_tiger
Maharashtra Launches Dog Vaccination Drive to Protect Tiger Reserves from Canine Distemper Virus Maharashtra’s chief wildlife warden, M Srinivasa Reddy, has directed field directors of all tiger reserves across the state to initiate mass vaccination campaigns for domestic and stray dogs in villages surrounding protected areas. The directive follows an advisory from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which highlighted the threat posed by canine distemper virus (CDV) to wild carnivores. The NTCA’s warning was prompted by a recent incident in Madhya Pradesh, where a tigress and her four sub-adult cubs died within nine days at Kanha Tiger Reserve, confirmed to be linked to CDV. The virus, primarily spread through domestic and feral dogs, does not always kill tigers directly but weakens their immune systems, making them vulnerable to fatal secondary infections, especially among cubs and young animals. Acting on the NTCA’s advisory, Reddy issued a statewide directive on May 5, ordering tiger reserve authorities to establish vaccination buffers around reserves, buffer zones, fringe settlements, and tourism corridors. Each reserve is required to develop village-specific vaccination plans, including estimated dog populations, vaccination schedules, assigned veterinary officers, and follow-up protocols. Reserve officials have been instructed to collaborate with the Animal Husbandry Department, local gram panchayats, and zilla parishads to ensure vaccination and health monitoring of dogs. Measures to restrict the movement of domestic and stray dogs into tiger reserves, protection camps, and tourism routes are also being enforced.#maharashtra #national_tiger_conservation_authority #m_srinivasa_reddy #kanha_tiger_reserve #canine_distemper_virus
Decomposed Tigress Carcass Found in Saoli Forest Range A highly decomposed carcass of an adult tigress was discovered in the Saoli forest range of Chandrapur Forest Division. The remains were found on Thursday morning during a routine patrol in compartment number 314 of the forest area. The tigress, believed to have died nearly 30 days prior, was in such an advanced state of decomposition that officials could not conduct a post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death. Despite the decomposition, all body parts were found intact, ruling out initial suspicions of poaching or the theft of body parts. Senior forest officials and veterinary experts, along with representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), arrived at the site promptly after being alerted to the discovery. The forest department sources confirmed that the deceased tiger was an adult female. The advanced state of decomposition complicated efforts to ascertain the cause of death, as the carcass was deemed unsuitable for further examination. The incident has raised questions about the conservation status of tigers in the region and the challenges faced by wildlife authorities in monitoring and protecting these animals. Officials emphasized that the absence of evidence pointing to poaching suggests the tigress may have succumbed to natural causes or other environmental factors. However, the lack of a conclusive post-mortem analysis has left the exact circumstances of her death unresolved. The discovery underscores the ongoing efforts by forest departments and conservation organizations to track and protect tiger populations, even in the face of challenges such as decomposition and the difficulty of retrieving accurate data from remains.#forest_department #chandrapur_forest_division #national_tiger_conservation_authority #saoli_forest_range #tiger_population
Decomposed Tigress Carcass Found in Saoli Forest Range A highly decomposed carcass of an adult tigress was discovered in the Saoli forest range of Chandrapur Forest Division, according to officials. The remains were found on Thursday morning during a routine patrol in compartment number 314 of the forest area. The discovery triggered an immediate response, with senior forest department officials and representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) arriving at the site shortly after the alert was received. Preliminary investigations suggested the tigress had died approximately 30 days prior to the discovery. Despite the advanced state of decomposition, all body parts were found intact, which officials noted ruled out the possibility of poaching or the theft of body parts. However, the severe decomposition made it impossible to conduct a post-mortem examination, complicating efforts to determine the exact cause of the tigress’s death. Forest department sources confirmed that the deceased animal was identified as an adult female tiger. The carcass was described as being in such a deteriorated condition that further forensic analysis could not be carried out. Officials emphasized that while the decomposition made it difficult to ascertain the cause of death, the intactness of the remains provided no evidence of foul play. The incident has raised questions about the conservation status of tigers in the region and the challenges faced by forest authorities in monitoring wildlife. The NTCA and veterinary experts were present during the inspection to assess the situation and gather any potential clues. However, without a post-mortem, the exact circumstances of the tigress’s death remain unclear.#forest_department #chandrapur_forest_division #national_tiger_conservation_authority #saoli_forest_range #ntca
Tigress Dies in Chandrapur After Attacking Forest Guard A tigress identified as T-84 died under unexplained circumstances in an agricultural field near Ratnapur village in Sindewahi taluka on Sunday, shortly after a large crowd surrounded the animal. The incident unfolded around 12:30 pm in Ratnapur beat under Navargaon round of Sindewahi forest range in Brahmapuri Forest Division. The tigress was spotted moving through a maize field, prompting villagers to gather at the site. As the crowd grew, the animal reportedly turned aggressive and attempted to charge. Moments after attacking a forest guard, the tigress retreated and mysteriously collapsed in the field. Forest staff arrived later and found the animal dead at approximately 1 pm, raising questions about the sudden nature of its death. Senior officials, including deputy conservator of forests Kumar Swami and RFO Anjali Sayankar, along with representatives of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Bandu Dhotre and Yash Kayarkar, visited the site. A panchnama was conducted, and the tigress was estimated to be between 9 and 10 years old. The carcass was transported to the central timber depot in Sindewahi, where veterinarians performed an autopsy. However, the exact cause of death could not be immediately determined. Experts suspect shock, potentially linked to electrocution or poisoning, but confirmed that forensic analysis will be required to establish the cause. Viscera samples were sent for further examination. The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) for Brahmapuri, Swami, stated that the cause of death will only be determined after receiving the forensic report.#tigress_t84 #ratnapur_village #sindewahi_taluka #brahmapuri_forest_division #national_tiger_conservation_authority
