7 Arrested in Madhya Pradesh for Tiger Electrocution Deaths

Authorities in Madhya Pradesh arrested seven men on Tuesday in connection with the electrocution deaths of a tiger and a tigress discovered in Shahdol district the previous day. The incident occurred in agricultural fields in the North Shahdol forest division, approximately 75 kilometers from the district headquarters, highlighting ongoing challenges in protecting the state's tiger population from human-wildlife conflicts.

Forest officials reported that the carcasses were found less than 100 meters apart on Monday. A postmortem examination confirmed that both animals died from electrocution, with the tiger estimated at six years old and the tigress around seven. The deaths occurred 48 to 72 hours prior to the discovery, according to Shahdol North Divisional Forest Officer Taruna Verma. The examination also showed the carcasses were intact, ruling out poaching for body parts.

The electric traps, consisting of live wires recovered at the scene, had been set by locals to deter herbivores such as wild boars from damaging crops. Verma explained that the big cats likely wandered into the traps while foraging in the fields. Sniffer dogs led forest teams to five of the suspects at their...