Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Popular Bandhavgarh Tigress Dotty Dies at About 14
Dotty was a well-known tigress who lived in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in India.
She was about 14 years old when she died.
Staff found her body in the reserve on Friday.
An early check suggested she died naturally.
Dotty had two young cubs, and officials say they are doing fine.
The reserve team is watching where the cubs go.
Dotty had raised several litters during her life.
Officials have sent samples for laboratory testing.
Dotty, a popular tigress at Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, was found dead Friday afternoon in the Manpur buffer range.
A preliminary examination indicated she died of natural causes, according to field director Anupam Sahay.
Her two cubs, aged 15 to 16 months, were reported to be fine, and reserve staff are monitoring them.
Born in 2011–12, Dotty raised several litters and her offspring became prominent tigers in Bandhavgarh, officials said.
Officials conducted a post-mortem, collected samples for laboratory analysis and reported finding nothing suspicious in a dog-squad search.
- Who
- Dotty, a well-known tigress at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
- What
- She was found dead; a preliminary examination indicated natural causes.
- When
- Found Friday afternoon; her post-mortem was conducted Saturday. The report was published Saturday.
- Where
- Majhkheta beat, Manpur buffer range, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Why
- A preliminary examination indicated she died of natural causes; laboratory analysis is pending.
Initial assessment
Further examination
Cause of death
Initial assessment
A preliminary examination indicated Dotty died of natural causes, officials said.
Further examination
Samples were collected for laboratory analysis; the articles provide no final laboratory result.
Possible suspicious circumstances
Initial assessment
A dog squad found nothing suspicious in the surrounding area, officials said.
Further examination
The post-mortem and laboratory analysis were still part of the examination process; no final findings were reported.
- Age
- About 14 years
- Found
- Friday afternoon
- Location
- Majhkheta beat, Manpur buffer range, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
- Cubs
- Two, aged 15 to 16 months; reported fine
- Born
- 2011–12 in the Magadhi zone
- Initial assessment
- Natural causes
- Follow-up
- Post-mortem conducted and samples collected for laboratory analysis