Chhota Matka (CM) — one of Tadoba’s most iconic and genetically superior male tigers — has been wrongfully confined to captivity.

Despite widespread reports, CM’s canines were intact and he was fully capable of surviving in the wild. In fact, CM always lived in the buffer zones of Tadoba, coexisting with villagers who considered him a local favorite. He only preyed on cattle, never threatening human lives directly. He was already living with his mate, Jharni who was hunting for their family, a rare sight in the wild, but a beautiful remainder of what instances nature can create.

CM is not just another tiger. He is a dominant bloodline male with stronger genes than most wild males alive today. His presence in the wild was crucial for maintaining the genetic strength and survival of Tadoba’s tiger population. Removing him denies future generations of tigers one of India’s finest sires. He currently has 3 already sub adult cubs with Jharni tigress and also has some few weeks old cubs with another tigress Babli. All of whom need to be under his protection.

Keeping a wild, powerful tiger like CM inside an enclosure is nothing less than a death sentence of the spirit. Tigers are not meant to wither away behind bars — especially not individuals as legendary as CM. We risk repeating the injustice done to his son Bhola, who too was taken away under questionable grounds.

India today has fewer than 3,000 wild tigers — less than 5% of what we had a century ago. Every genetically strong male like CM is priceless. Conservation isn’t about putting tigers into cages; it’s about giving them space, respect, and a chance to thrive as nature intended.

We demand that:

The Maharashtra Forest Department and NTCA and the Hon’ble Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) to urgently review CM’s case with transparency.
If medically fit, CM must be rehabilitated and re-released into the wild, preferably in Tadoba where he belongs.
A stricter protocol be adopted so that no healthy tiger is condemned to captivity under misleading grounds in the future.

CM is not just Tadoba’s tiger — he is India’s heritage. His legacy should continue in the wild, not fade behind iron bars.

We urge you to act NOW. Before it’s too late.

There was already some news in Newspaper of him being shifted so it would be better to get him back to Tadoba as soon as possible. There are many other tigers who can be in Gorewada who weren’t born in the wild. Chota Matka needs to be there as his the future of a strong wildlife for India. Jai Hind.