BHOPAL (Sunday, March 29, 2026) — Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have arrested five individuals following the retaliatory poisoning and burial of a radio-collared tigress near the Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR). The carcass of the big cat was recovered on Friday morning from a pit in the West Chhindwara forest division, concluding a search operation triggered by a lack of movement in the animal’s tracking data.
Incident Timeline & Discovery
The tigress, a four-and-a-half-year-old animal originally rehabilitated from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, had established territory in a human-dominated fringe area outside the protected reserve boundaries.
- The Trigger: The investigation revealed that the tigress had recently killed an ox belonging to a local farmer in Chhatiaam village.
- The Poisoning: In retaliation, the farmer, identified as Udesingh (50), allegedly laced the ox’s carcass with urea or pesticide. The tigress died after consuming the poisoned bait.
- The Burial: To conceal the crime, Udesingh and four accomplices buried the tiger’s carcass in a pit and reportedly burnt its radio collar.
- Recovery: A forest team, assisted by a dog squad, traced the scent from the ox carcass to a pit near Udesingh’s hut, where the tiger’s body was found at approximately 8:30 AM on Friday.
Criminal Profile & Context
Satpura Tiger Reserve Field Director Rakhi Nanda confirmed that the primary accused is also under investigation for illegal opium cultivation.
| Detail | Information |
| Victim | 4.5-year-old female tiger (Translocated from Bandhavgarh). |
| Accused | Udesingh (50) and four others; all remanded to judicial custody. |
| Secondary Crime | Illegal opium cultivation on the accused’s farm. |
| Motive | Retaliation for livestock loss and fear of forest officials discovering the opium farm. |
Allegations of Monitoring Failure
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has filed a formal complaint with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), alleging gross negligence. He claims the radio collar had been stationary since March 3, but no action was taken for over three weeks.
- Forest Dept Defense: Field Director Rakhi Nanda stated that regular monitoring had been scaled back because the tigress had “well established” its territory. Officials assumed the collar might have been “dropped” remotely after receiving confirmation for its removal on March 19.
- Mortality Trends: This incident marks the 14th tiger death in Madhya Pradesh since January 2026, highlighting the escalating human-wildlife friction as tiger populations expand into revenue lands.
Sources
- The Hindu: “Tiger poisoned to death near Satpura Reserve; five arrested” (March 29, 2026).
- The New Indian Express: “Tiger poisoned to death near Satpura Reserve in MP, five held; accused also into opium cultivation” (March 28, 2026).
- Indian Express: “Translocated Bandhavgarh tigress poisoned and buried in MP’s Chhindwara; five arrested” (March 29, 2026).
- Times of India: “Collared tiger killed with poisoned bait in MP, 4 villagers arrested” (March 28, 2026).
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