Tiger Mortality In India: Maharashtra Reported 41 Deaths In 2025

Maharashtra recorded 41 tiger deaths in 2025, according to information shared in the Legislative Council during the ongoing Budget session. Across the country, a total of 166 tiger deaths were documented during the same period.

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik presented the figures while responding to questions raised by members regarding tiger deaths reported from the Pench Tiger Reserve in Nagpur district. The data cited by the minister is based on records maintained by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Concerns Raised Over Recent Deaths In Pench Tiger Reserve

Members of the Legislative Council, including Satyajit Tambe and Parinay Fuke, sought details after reports emerged about the deaths of one adult tiger and two cubs in Pench Tiger Reserve.

According to information shared in the House, a tiger carcass was discovered in compartment 329 within the Saleghaat wildlife zone on December 2, 2025. In a separate incident, a cub was found dead in the Deolapar zone in Khursapar on January 7.

In his written reply, Mr Naik stated that initial findings suggested the cub discovered in January may have died following a fight among tigers. Another decomposed cub carcass found earlier appeared to have died due to natural causes.

Measures Taken To Curb Poaching

The Forest Minister said the state has put in place several measures aimed at preventing poaching and strengthening wildlife protection.

Teams of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) regularly patrol hypersensitive areas, while dog squads are deployed to monitor hunting-related activities. Field staff have also been equipped with mobile devices integrated with the M-Stripes system to help track suspicious movements in forest areas.

Informers have been engaged at the range level to gather intelligence about illegal poaching activities. The minister’s reply noted that secret service funds are used to support such information gathering.

Surveillance And Monitoring Strengthened In Forests

Authorities have introduced multiple surveillance mechanisms across sensitive wildlife zones.

Camera traps have been installed in tiger corridors, around water bodies and at other critical locations to detect suspicious activities. Regular inspections of water sources are also carried out to prevent poisoning attempts.

Metal detectors are used to identify iron traps that may be placed along animal paths leading to water bodies. Checkposts have additionally been established in hypersensitive areas to inspect vehicles entering or leaving forest regions.

Wildlife Crime Cell And Cyber Monitoring

A Wildlife Crime Cell has been set up at the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Nagpur to monitor wildlife-related offences, and efforts are underway to strengthen its operations.

A cyber cell functioning at the Melghat Tiger Reserve is also used to track individuals suspected of involvement in poaching incidents and to facilitate swift action.

Protection huts and observation towers have also been constructed in forest areas to aid monitoring.

Legislators Flag Rising Human-Wildlife Conflict

The issue of wildlife poaching and increasing incidents of human–wildlife conflict has been a major topic of discussion during the Budget session of the State legislature.

Legislators have raised concerns about the deaths of both people and animals, including tigers and leopards. Mr Naik told the House that shifts in animal behaviour and changes in habitat patterns have contributed to more frequent encounters between wildlife and human populations, with animals sometimes entering agricultural fields.

A fortnightly tracking programme for tigers and leopards has also been implemented at the range level to monitor their presence, while inspections of nomadic settlements near villages are carried out to track movement in sensitive areas.

Proposal To Change Leopard Protection Category

Mr Naik also told the Council that the State Cabinet has approved a proposal to change the protection status of leopards.

He said the Maharashtra government has approached the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to shift leopards from Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA), which provides the highest level of protection, to Schedule II, where the penalties are comparatively lower.

(With inputs from various sources.)

FAQs

1. How many tiger deaths were recorded in Maharashtra in 2025?

Maharashtra reported 41 tiger deaths in 2025 out of a total of 166 deaths recorded across India.

2. Which authority tracks tiger deaths in India?

Tiger mortality data in India is monitored by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

3. Where were recent tiger deaths reported in Maharashtra?

Recent deaths were reported from Pench Tiger Reserve in Nagpur district.

4. What measures are being taken to prevent tiger poaching?

Authorities have strengthened patrols through the Special Tiger Protection Force, dog squads, camera traps and the M-Stripes monitoring system.

5. What causes tiger deaths in India?

Tiger deaths may occur due to natural causes, territorial fights, poaching, habitat loss and human–wildlife conflict.