Maharashtra Lost 22 Tigers, 40 Leopards in Just Four Months: Forest Minister

Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Friday informed the state Legislative Assembly that 22 tigers, 40 leopards, and 61 other wild animals died between January and April 2025. The alarming figures have sparked fresh concerns over wildlife safety and human-animal conflict in the state.

Presenting the data during a session in the Assembly, Naik revealed detailed causes of the deaths. Among the 22 tiger fatalities, 13 died of natural causes, while four were electrocuted, and another four succumbed to accidents involving roads, railways, or fell into wells. The cause of one tiger’s death is still under investigation.

The numbers for leopards were equally grim. Of the 40 leopard deaths, eight were attributed to natural causes, while 20 were killed in accidents involving vehicles or open wells. Three leopards fell victim to poaching, and the causes of nine deaths remain undetermined.

In addition to big cats, 61 other wild animals also died during the same four-month period. According to the minister, 23 died naturally, four were electrocuted, another four were poached, while 24 succumbed to attacks by stray dogs or fell into wells. The causes of death for six animals are still unknown.

The minister also revealed that 21 people were killed in wild animal attacks during this four-month period, underscoring the rising human-wildlife conflict in many regions of the state.

Naik shared broader statistics to highlight the ongoing challenges in wildlife protection. Between January 2022 and December 2024, Maharashtra recorded the deaths of 107 tigers and a total of 707 wild animals. These figures include animals that died due to natural causes, electrocution, poaching, accidents, or unidentified reasons.

In response to the concerns raised by MLAs, Naik said the government was actively working on preventive and protective measures. “Measures are being planned in the district-level tiger committee meetings. To prevent the deaths of tigers and other wild animals due to electric current, action is being taken,” he assured.

The government has also been focusing on awareness campaigns and improving coordination between forest departments, local communities, and law enforcement to curb poaching and reduce accidental deaths.

Despite ongoing conservation efforts, wildlife experts and activists have called for stronger enforcement and better infrastructure planning—especially near forests and wildlife corridors—to protect Maharashtra’s rich but increasingly vulnerable biodiversity.

IT.