Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Tigress With Distemper Symptoms Dies at Kanha Reserve
A three-year-old tigress died while being treated at Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
Officials said she was not from Kanha.
A patrol team found her very weak on August 26, and veterinarians began supervising her care the next day.
She showed signs of a disease called Canine Distemper Virus, or CDV.
The reports do not confirm that CDV caused her death.
Veterinarians examined her after she died, and her body was cremated.
Samples were sent to a laboratory in Jabalpur to find out more.
One report says nine CDV-related deaths have occurred in Kanha, while an official said only one or two cases were emerging.
A three-year-old tigress died on Tuesday while receiving treatment at Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
Officials said the tigress was not from Kanha and had shown symptoms of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV); testing to determine the exact cause of death is pending.
A patrol team found her in a very weak condition on August 26, and veterinary supervision began on August 27.
Kanha and Baihar veterinarians conducted a post-mortem examination on Wednesday; the carcass was cremated under prescribed procedures.
Samples were sent to a laboratory in Jabalpur; one report says the Kanha CDV death toll rose to nine, while an official described one or two cases as emerging.
- Who
- A three-year-old tigress being treated at Kanha Tiger Reserve.
- What
- She died while receiving treatment after showing symptoms of Canine Distemper Virus infection; the exact cause of death is being investigated.
- When
- She was found on August 26, veterinary supervision began on August 27, and she died on Tuesday. The PTI report is dated October 7 but does not specify the year.
- Where
- Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh; samples were sent to a laboratory in Jabalpur.
- Why
- The exact cause of death has not been established; officials reported CDV symptoms and samples were sent for examination.
Reported outbreak toll
Official assessment
Extent of CDV cases in Kanha
Reported outbreak toll
One report says this death brought the number of deaths due to canine distemper in Kanha to nine.
Official assessment
Kanha deputy director Prakash Kumar said officials were seeing only one or two cases emerge, which he described as an achievement of forest officials' alertness.
- Animal
- Three-year-old female tigress
- Found
- August 26, in a very weak condition
- Veterinary supervision
- Began August 27
- Treatment location
- Wildlife Treatment Centre in the Mukki range, according to the PTI report
- Post-mortem
- Conducted Wednesday by veterinarians from Kanha and Baihar under NTCA procedures
- Testing
- Samples sent to a Jabalpur laboratory for forensic and pathological examination
- Reported CDV toll
- One report says the number of deaths due to CDV in Kanha rose to nine
- Outbreak timing
- The first cases in Kanha were reported in April, according to one report
