The fatality figures have been compiled by Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) for the period January 1 to December 24, 2023.The figure of 3,682 big cats in the wild pertained to a 2022 census. WPSI’s toll of 202 includes 147 due to natural causes and 55 due to poaching. Last year, the tally was 143, including 104 natural deaths and 39 from poaching.
According to WPSI, the maximum deaths were reported from Maharashtra, where the toll crossed the half-century mark for the first time at 52. Almost 50% of the deaths occurred in the Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts. Madhya Pradesh—the state with the largest number of tigers—logged the second-largest number of fatalities at 47. Till last year, Maharashtra used to be number two in tiger deaths but it has overtaken neighbour MP this time.
Even data from the Centre-run National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) have shown an upward trend in tiger deaths.
So far in 2023, NTCA data puts the deaths at 168—the highest in over a decade. NTCA numbers show fatalities have been increasing since 2012—96 in 2019, 106 in 2020, 127 in 2021 and 121 in 2022
However, NTCA figures for this year have not been updated since November 30, 2023, and could be higher. In Maharashtra alone, five tigers have died in December but these don’t reflect on the NTCA’s website.
On Sunday, a tiger carcass was found in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district.
“Even as there is phenomenal growth in numbers, an equal number of tigers have died in the last five years. Poaching and electrocution are two major causes in Maharashtra,” said Bandu Dhotre, ex-member of the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL). In Maharashtra, the death number includes tigers killed by a gang of Bawaria poachers from Haryana and Punjab.
WPSI has flagged a spurt in leopard deaths too—544 between January 1 and December 24, 2023. This includes 392 due to mortality and 152 from poaching. In 2022, the leopard toll was 518, including 356 mortalities, 162 poaching and seizures.
“Tiger population has gone up rapidly. The average age in the wild is only 10-12 years and 50% neo-natal mortality in tigers is common. As long as a 6% population increase per year is registered, there is no cause for worry. Maximum deaths have been reported in states that have high numbers of tigers,” S P Yadav, additional-director general of forests (Project Tiger) and NTCA member-secretary, told TOI.
But a senior tiger expert questioned this argument. “The national figures show a rise in tiger mortalities by almost 39%, and it is more than 50% in the case of Maharashtra. These are just known cases. What about tiger deaths that never came to light? This is very serious. One can say that there are so many deaths because there are so many tigers, but this means that there is not enough space for tigers,” the expert said.
About Post Author
