Mandla, Madhya Pradesh: A three-year-old tigress undergoing treatment for symptoms of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection died at Kanha Tiger Reserve on October 6, renewing concern over disease-related tiger deaths in the landscape.
The animal was being treated at the Wildlife Treatment Centre in the reserve’s Mukki range. Biological samples have been sent to a laboratory in Jabalpur to establish the precise cause of death.
Found Weak During Forest Patrol
A patrol team spotted the tigress in an extremely weakened condition on August 26. According to officials cited by PTI, she had been under veterinary supervision since August 27.
Symptoms consistent with CDV infection were detected during treatment. Despite veterinary care, the tigress could not be saved. Officials said she had come from outside Kanha, although her original location was not specified.
Post-Mortem and Laboratory Tests
Veterinarians from Kanha and Baihar conducted the post-mortem examination on October 7, following National Tiger Conservation Authority procedures. The carcass was subsequently cremated.
Organs and other samples collected during the examination were sent for forensic and pathological testing. Until the findings are available, CDV should be treated as a suspected cause of this latest death.
Reports Differ on the Death Toll
The Free Press Journal reported that the latest death brought Kanha’s disease-linked toll to nine. However, Amar Ujala and other Hindi publications reported eight deaths.
Because the published totals differ, a consolidated official count is needed before the number can be stated with certainty.
Earlier Deaths Raised Disease Concerns
The Free Press Journal reported that the outbreak first came to attention in April, when a tigress and her four cubs died in the Sarhi range. Further tiger deaths were reported in subsequent months.
The losses prompted disease-control measures, including vaccination of dogs in settlements around Kanha. In a June report, the newspaper quoted a senior wildlife official as saying approximately 2,900 dogs had been vaccinated.
A Disease Threat to Wild Carnivores
Canine distemper is a contagious viral disease that can affect tigers and other wild carnivores, as well as domestic dogs. The latest death highlights the importance of veterinary surveillance and timely investigation of animals showing unusual weakness or illness.
Laboratory confirmation and consistent reporting will be essential to understanding the outbreak and assessing the effectiveness of measures taken to contain it.
News sources: The Free Press Journal, PTI/ThePrint and Amar Ujala, October 7, 2026. Vaccination background: The Free Press Journal, June 23, 2026.
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