BackLAW
RTI reveals 88 tiger deaths (2020-2021) unresolved across India; NTCA orders Jan 27 deadline for pending reports
RTI documents show 88 tiger deaths recorded between 2020 and 2021 remain unresolved, with no confirmed cause or completed investigations. The cases span major reserves and several states, including instances suggesting poaching, while no legal closures are reported. In January 2026, the NTCA directed states to submit pending reports by January 27, or risk closing the cases, prompting activist concerns over accountability.
Why It Matters
Unresolved cases hinder accountability and may allow wildlife crime to go unpunished, undermining conservation efforts and the integrity of wildlife monitoring.
Timeline
2 Events
RTI findings: 88 tiger deaths (2020-2021) remain unresolved across India
April 27, 2026
RTI documents reveal that 88 tiger deaths recorded between 2020 and 2021 remain unresolved, with no confirmed cause, no completed investigation, and no accountability fixed. The cases span reserves such as Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Kaziranga, Tadoba, Dudhwa, and Corbett, across states including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Some cases listed as 'seizures' suggest poaching, yet no conclusive legal outcomes are reported. Critics highlight missing post-mortems, forensic analyses, and histopathology, raising concerns that evidentiary delays could impede action against wildlife crime.
NTCA directive requires states to submit pending tiger-death reports by January 27, 2026
January 27, 2026
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) issued a January 2026 directive instructing states to submit pending reports on tiger-death cases by January 27, 2026. If these reports are not submitted, the cases may be closed. Activists criticized the move, arguing that closure without conclusions could weaken accountability and erase evidence.