Written by Anand Mohan JBhopal | December 29, 2025 04:25 PM IST 3 min readWildlife sources said the investigation is focused on whether the tiger died after coming in contact with an electric fence, and its body was later dumped at the spot. (Express Photo)Another tiger death in Madhya Pradesh has brought the fatalities this year in the state to 55, the highest since Project Tiger was launched in 1973.The latest casualty, a male tiger estimated to be between eight and ten years old, was discovered in Bundelkhand’s Sagar region. According to officials, the carcass was spotted near Hilgan village under the Dhana range of the South Forest Division on Sunday.Residents informed the Forest Department, prompting officials to establish a security cordon and call veterinarians to the scene. Senior forest officials said “no external injury marks were found during preliminary examination, though a post-mortem is being conducted to determine the cause of death”.Also Read | Why tiger conservation in India needs democratic participation, not displacementThe department is investigating the tiger’s movement patterns and whether it had been present in the Dhana range previously, with officials speculating the animal may have dispersed from the nearby Nauradehi Tiger Reserve.Divisional forest officer Varun Yadav said, “The carcass was discovered in a forest area where tigers have not been documented previously. The animal appeared to be a fully grown male, approximately eight years old. All body parts were intact with no visible external injuries, and no bloodstains were observed on the carcass or in the immediate vicinity.”Wildlife sources said the investigation is focused on whether the tiger died after coming in contact with an electric fence, and its body was later dumped at the spot.Electric fencing represents one of the most insidious threats to dispersing tigers. Farmers, facing crop losses from wild boars, nilgai, and other herbivores, string live electrical wires around fields, often using direct current rather than low-voltage solar chargers. These crude systems lack safety cutoffs and can deliver fatal shocks to any animal that touches them.Story continues below this adThe mounting toll has prompted unprecedented action from the highest levels of the state’s forest bureaucracy. Taking serious note of the rising deaths, V N Ambade, head of the Madhya Pradesh forest department, recently wrote a stern letter to all senior forest officers across the state, directing them to treat wildlife protection as a priority and warning that negligence will not be tolerated.In his communication to all chief conservators of forests, field directors of tiger reserves, divisional forest officers, and the director of Van Vihar National Park, Ambade pointed out that despite repeated instructions, the number of tiger and leopard deaths has increased in recent months, with animals dying due to electrocution, road and rail accidents, and other avoidable causes.Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd