Tourists visiting the sprawling Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh were lucky to capture on camera a majestic tigress accompanied by four beautiful cubs running around in the forest.

Meanwhile, the estimated count of tigers in India had increased from 1,411 in 2006 to 2,967 in 2018, according to the last census report.

According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Madhya Pradesh regained the top position in the 2018 tiger census after it was found to be home to 526 tigers, two more than Karnataka (524). Uttarakhand held the third position with 442 big cats.

The estimated count of tigers in India had increased from 1,411 in 2006 to 2,967 in 2018, according to the last census report.

However, Madhya Pradesh faces the challenge of retaining its top position as 34 tigers died in the state in 2022 while its closest competitor Karnataka recorded only 15 tiger deaths, according to official data.

The national tiger census is conducted once every four years. The latest All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) was conducted in 2022 and its report is scheduled to be released this year, a forest department official said.