41 of 166 tiger deaths in nation final 12 months reported in Maharashtra

Of the 166 tiger deaths recorded within the nation final 12 months, 41 occurred in Maharashtra, the State Authorities knowledgeable the Legislative Council throughout the ongoing Price range session.�

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik stated the State recorded 41 tiger deaths in 2025, in keeping with knowledge from the Nationwide Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). He was responding to queries from members relating to latest tiger deaths reported from the Pench Tiger Reserve in Nagpur district.

Members of the Legislative Council, together with Satyajit Tambe and Parinay Fuke, raised issues after the deaths of 1 grownup tiger and two cubs have been reported from the reserve. One other carcass was present in compartment 329 within the Saleghaat wildlife zone on December 2, 2025, whereas a cub was discovered lifeless within the Deolapar zone, Khursapar, on January 7.�

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In response to the queries, Mr Naik stated a number of measures are being taken to curb poaching and shield wildlife.

“The Particular Tiger Safety Drive and canine squad are always patrolling to watch poaching actions. Expertise can be getting used to trace suspicious actions, together with the usage of digicam surveillance and mobiles enabled with the M-Stripes app. A Wildlife Crime Cell has been established,” knowledgeable Mr. Naik.�

“An analogous cyber cell can be operational on the Melghat Tiger Reserve to watch poaching actions and provoke immediate motion. Mr. Naik additionally talked about the creation of a Fast Rescue Unit and a Transit Therapy Centre.

The problem of wildlife poaching and human-wildlife battle has figured prominently in discussions within the State legislature throughout the Price range session, with legislators elevating issues in regards to the deaths of each people and animals, together with tigers and leopards.�

Mr. Naik informed the Home that modifications in animal behaviour and habitat patterns have intensified such conflicts, with animals usually getting into agricultural fields.�

Referring to leopards, he stated that the State Cupboard has authorised a proposal to alter their safety class, and the federal government has approached the Union Ministry of Setting, Forest and Local weather Change (MoEFCC) to formalise the change.

It seeks to maneuver leopards from Schedule I of the Wildlife Safety Act (WLPA)—which receives the very best stage of safety—to Schedule II, the place penalties are much less stringent.�

Environmentalists, nonetheless, have strongly opposed the transfer and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reject what they described as a “merciless and regressive” proposal.�

“The federal government ought to concentrate on defending forests and stopping encroachment into wildlife habitats to cut back battle between people and animals. Diluting authorized safety for leopards will ship a harmful sign at a time when wildlife habitats are already beneath immense stress,” stated NatConnect director B N Kumar.

He known as for a complete forest conservation coverage that will improve forest cowl whereas strictly regulating human intrusion into wildlife zones.

Activists additionally pointed to India’s world recognition for conservation initiatives akin to Venture Tiger and Venture Lion, arguing that weakening authorized safeguards for protected species would run counter to that imaginative and prescient.

Environmentalists additionally famous that Maharashtra’s management had emphasised the necessity to steadiness improvement with conservation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has repeatedly stated that “financial system and ecology go collectively” and that human–animal battle must be addressed by means of considerate and community-driven insurance policies.

Nandakumar Pawar of Sagar Shakti blamed large-scale destruction of forests because of mining, industrial growth and infrastructure tasks for pushing wildlife nearer to human settlements. “As an alternative of addressing habitat loss, the federal government is speaking about killing unvoiced and harmless wildlife,” he stated.