Disinterest by officials, lack of arrests — SIT report on 43 tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh raises many red flags

According to the report, there appeared to be insufficient investigation into at least 10 cases of tiger deaths. There was a “lack of interest by higher authorities and Forest Range Officers in discharging their duties, resulting in arrests in only two out of five cases where unnatural causes of death were found/body parts were seized,” it said, while flagging a “disinterest in recovering missing body parts (10 out of 34 cases) from the tiger carcasses”.

In many cases where tigers were found dead due to electrocution, there was an “absence of various vital evidences (sic) like mobile forensics, CDR, electric trip data in the investigation of the cases and no efforts were made to extract information on revenue and private land ownership”, the report says.

It also said that in 17 cases, there was a tendency to portray tiger deaths as a result of infighting without detailed investigation. The SIT had been formed on the orders of the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden to look into the high number of tiger deaths in the two areas.

Noted wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, who had filed a petition on poaching cases in the state, told The Indian Express that he would approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court with the report. “In their reply to the court, the state has claimed poaching cases are under control. This report sheds light on multiple irregularities by higher authorities,” he said.

Acting PCCF Subharanjan Sen said there were “some shortcomings” in the department’s functioning. But, “the report also points to the fact that there is no organised gang working in these forests. We are facing a staff shortage. In BTR, the post of regular field director is still vacant and other officers are holding double responsibilities. An NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority, the apex tiger conservation body) team has given us recommendations and we are working on them,” he said.

The findings of the SIT report include:

Shortcomings in investigation

On May 14, 2021, the skeletal remains of a male adult tiger were found. Three people were arrested for poaching after it was found that 12 nails and all of the animal’s vital organs and whiskers were missing. The SIT noted that an “erroneous and inadequate final report was submitted to NTCA”, and the “competent authority failed to identify the seized body parts from the accused, leading to the immediate release of all three suspects on bail”. The cause of death remained “uncertain due to improper and incomplete investigation…”

On August 29, 2021, a 14-year-old tigress was found dead in a well in BTR. The cause of death was stated as electrocution, but the SIT ruled it was poaching, noting one missing nail, one canine, and whiskers. “The tigress was poached by electrocution, but no substantial scientific evidence was collected,” the SIT said.

On January 28, 2022, a 10-year-old tigress was found dead in BTR with burn marks on its right and left thighs. The initial report suggested infighting, but no investigation was conducted until the SIT’s arrival. The cause of death was later attributed to electrocution, but no efforts were made to “get the electric trip data” from the electricity board for further investigation.

On September 15, 2023, an adult tiger was found with nine nails, the head, atlas vertebrae, all four canines, whiskers, skull, skin, and underlying tissues of the head missing. According to the report, the case was not investigated properly – while the cause of death is cited as electrocution, postmortem and laboratory findings suggested poaching.

On April 1, 2023, the bones of a tiger were found in a well. The SIT didn’t rule out the possibility of them being dumped there. “Dog squad was not called to the crime scene,” the SIT report said. “No whiskers and hair samples were recovered from the well.”

Post-mortem issues

According to the SIT, “sample collection and sealing were not done by the Veterinary Officer/Wildlife Health Officer, affecting the chain of custody in court cases”, and case diaries and documentation of many incidents of tiger deaths “were not adequately prepared”.

On May 27, 2021, the skeletal remains of a tiger aged 5-7 years were found. Cause of death remained unestablished.

On November 23, 2021, a 12-year-old tiger was found dead. A suspect, who claimed to have killed the tiger by electrocution, was arrested along with 12 others.

On May 17, 2023, an 8- or 9-year-old tiger was found dead, with its canines and nails missing. This tiger died due to poaching, and two people were arrested.

In all three cases, the cause of death could not be established, with the SIT report saying autopsies were conducted by veterinarians of the Animal Husbandry Department who had no previous experience of “doing PM of wild animals”.

Other gaps

On January 17, 2021, a mutilated head of a 4- or 5-month-old tiger was found. According to SIT, there was “no application of scientific investigation” – the cause of death allegedly remained unconfirmed, no efforts were undertaken to ascertain its age or sex, the post-mortem was conducted by one veterinarian doctor, and, despite faecal dropping of another animal found at the site, no efforts were made to identify if it was involved in a fight with another animal.

A 15-month-old tiger was initially said to have died from natural causes on January 7, 2022, at BTR. However, the SIT, after reviewing post-mortem reports and photos, concluded that the tiger died due to infighting. The dog squad was not called, nor was the animal with which the tiger fought identified, the report said.

On November 28, 2021, a 13-year-old tigress died during treatment after a growth was found in the fetlock joint and foot pad of its right hind limb. The SIT noted that a “nylon wire embedded in the metatarsal was not detected during the treatment phase, indicating serious negligence by the treatment team”.

According to the SIT, wildlife officials have promised to rectify these errors.