41 of 166 tiger deaths in country last year reported in Maharashtra

Of the 166 tiger deaths recorded in the country last year, 41 occurred in Maharashtra, the State Government informed the Legislative Council during the ongoing Budget session. 

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said the State recorded 41 tiger deaths in 2025, according to data from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). He was responding to queries from members regarding recent tiger deaths reported from the Pench Tiger Reserve in Nagpur district.

Members of the Legislative Council, including Satyajit Tambe and Parinay Fuke, raised concerns after the deaths of one adult tiger and two cubs were reported from the reserve. Another carcass was found in compartment 329 in the Saleghaat wildlife zone on December 2, 2025, while a cub was found dead in the Deolapar zone, Khursapar, on January 7. 

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In response to the queries, Mr Naik said several measures are being taken to curb poaching and protect wildlife.

“The Special Tiger Protection Force and dog squad are constantly patrolling to monitor poaching activities. Technology is also being used to track suspicious movements, including the use of camera surveillance and mobiles enabled with the M-Stripes app. A Wildlife Crime Cell has been established,” informed Mr. Naik. 

“A similar cyber cell is also operational at the Melghat Tiger Reserve to monitor poaching activities and initiate prompt action. Mr. Naik also mentioned the creation of a Rapid Rescue Unit and a Transit Treatment Centre.

The issue of wildlife poaching and human-wildlife conflict has figured prominently in discussions in the State legislature during the Budget session, with legislators raising concerns about the deaths of both humans and animals, including tigers and leopards. 

Mr. Naik told the House that changes in animal behaviour and habitat patterns have intensified such conflicts, with animals often entering agricultural fields. 

Referring to leopards, he said that the State Cabinet has approved a proposal to change their protection category, and the government has approached the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to formalise the change.

It seeks to move leopards from Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA)—which receives the highest level of protection—to Schedule II, where penalties are less stringent. 

Environmentalists, however, have strongly opposed the move and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reject what they described as a “cruel and regressive” proposal. 

“The government should focus on protecting forests and preventing encroachment into wildlife habitats to reduce conflict between humans and animals. Diluting legal protection for leopards will send a dangerous signal at a time when wildlife habitats are already under immense pressure,” said NatConnect director B N Kumar.

He called for a comprehensive forest conservation policy that would increase forest cover while strictly regulating human intrusion into wildlife zones.

Activists also pointed to India’s global recognition for conservation initiatives such as Project Tiger and Project Lion, arguing that weakening legal safeguards for protected species would run counter to that vision.

Environmentalists also noted that Maharashtra’s leadership had emphasised the need to balance development with conservation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has repeatedly said that “economy and ecology go together” and that human–animal conflict should be addressed through thoughtful and community-driven policies.

Nandakumar Pawar of Sagar Shakti blamed large-scale destruction of forests due to mining, industrial expansion and infrastructure projects for pushing wildlife closer to human settlements. “Instead of addressing habitat loss, the government is talking about killing voiceless and innocent wildlife,” he said.