FIR after video shows man approaching and touching tiger cubs in Rajasthan’s Ranthambore
Tigers are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Launched in 1973, Project Tiger has been one of India’s flagship programmes aimed at conserving tiger and their habitats
3 min readJaipurUpdated: May 17, 2025 03:26 AM IST
An undated video of the incident shows a man entering a large water pipe in which the cubs were sheltering, playing with them and capturing it with his camera. (Express).
A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed after a video clip showed a man approaching and touching tiger cubs at the Ranthambore National Park near Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur.
The undated video of the incident shows a man entering a large water pipe in which the cubs were sheltering, playing with them and capturing it with his camera. According to park officials, the incident occurred near Devpura Dam in Phalodi Range, where tigress identified as T-2302 has birthed three cubs in a pipe.
The FIR has been filed under sections 27 (restriction on entry in sanctuary), 50 (power of entry, search, arrest and detention) and 51 (penalties) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – the law that provides protection to the country’s wild animals, birds, and plant species.
“We are investigating how this man got so near the three cubs,” Ranthambore DFO Ramanand Bhakar. Officials have not identified the man.
Tigers are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Launched in 1973, Project Tiger has been one of India’s flagship programmes aimed at conserving tigers and their habitats in designated tiger reserves – including the Ranthambore National Park, home to 80 tigers.
Sunil Mehta, a wildlife conservationist and member of the World Wilderness Congress, told the Indian Express that it was a “very serious negligence on part of the park management”.
“How could people just venture into the critical tiger habitat which is supposed to be inviolate? And when the department knows that there are cubs, isn’t it a standard procedure to enhance vigilance and put camera traps? Unfortunately, Ranthambore is in news for all the wrong reasons. The NTCA should take cognisance of this and ensure that NTCA guidelines are strictly adhered to,” he said.
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This comes after two people – a forest officer and a 7-year-old child – were mauled to death in Ranthambore within the span of a month between April 16 and May 11. Officials suspect a young tigress, Kankati, to be behind the killings.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
