Sixth tiger dies of suspected CDV in Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha Reserve
Another tiger has been found dead in Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR), in what authorities suspect is the sixth death in a month due to the canine distemper virus (CDV), which is spread through dogs.
A six-year-old male tiger was found dead on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) in section number 156 Mohgaon beat under Mukki enclosure by a patrol team acting on information about the animal being unwell, officials said.
KTR Deputy Director PK Verma told The Hindu that initial post-mortem findings show a severe lung infection in the cat, which has raised the suspicion of CDV, as well as some superficial signs of injury, possibly caused by a fight with another animal.
Forensic and viscera samples from the carcass have been sent to the School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Jabalpur, to confirm the cause of death, Mr. Verma said.
“The test results will take two to three days, but we have already put precautionary measures in place. The watercourse near which the tiger was found has been closed and disinfected with bleach and lime. The animal’s droppings and food scraps have been burnt so that no other animal has come into contact with them,” he said.
The latest death is a matter of concern for the forest and wildlife authorities in Madhya Pradesh, as the virus had already claimed a tigress and four of her cubs in the Sarah area of the KTR region in April. Authorities claimed the areas where the five animals were found had been cleaned and the virus contained.
The death of a tiger in another area now raises fears of the virus spreading to other areas of the reserve. The Union government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority have already sought reports from state officials on deaths due to the virus.
The School of Wildlife Forensic and Health confirmed that the first five deaths were caused by CDV, a highly contagious virus that targets the animal’s respiratory organs, nervous system and immune system.
A ground official at KTR, requesting anonymity, said the growing population of stray dogs in the buffer zone and surrounding areas is a cause for concern as they often enter the core area.
“Sometimes locals from nearby villages also keep dogs with them when they go to collect forest produce (which is restricted in key areas),” said an official in Sarhi Range.
Meanwhile, vaccination of dogs against rabies and CDV is already underway for dogs in the core and buffer areas of the affected parts of KTR, Mr. Verma said.
Published – 19 May 2026 22:51 IST