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Kanha Tigress and Four Cubs Die in Nine Days as Suspected Virus Triggers Probe

Officials treat a viral spillover from dogs as a leading hypothesis pending lab results.

Overview

  • Tigress T-141 and her last cub, shifted to the Mukki rescue centre, died Wednesday during treatment after three cubs were found dead between April 21 and April 25.
  • Post-mortems found respiratory and gastrointestinal disease, and officials preserved tissue and blood samples for forensic testing at labs including the Jabalpur wildlife forensics school.
  • Forest teams launched containment steps that include sanitising sites, removing and cremating carcasses, testing water sources, and tracking other tigers with elephant patrols.
  • Canine distemper virus remains a prime suspect because it causes lung and gut infections in dogs and can spread to wild carnivores through shared water or scavenged kills.
  • Managers plan vaccination drives for stray and village dogs in the 5‑km buffer, a measure urged by India’s tiger authority after past outbreaks such as the 2018 Gir lion deaths.