Tiger Mortality Report in India: Maharashtra Records Highest Deaths in 2023

Tiger Mortality Report in India: Maharashtra Records Highest Deaths in 2023 (Representative image)

Tiger Mortality Report in India: Maharashtra Records Highest Deaths in 2023

In the year 2023, a total of 177 tiger deaths were recorded in India, with Maharashtra registering the highest count at 45, according to officials’ reports released on Friday.

Among the deceased tigers, 40 percent comprised cubs and subadults, highlighting a concerning trend.

Contrary to incorrect media reports of 202 tiger deaths, the Environment Ministry clarified the accurate count and attributed these fatalities primarily to states with substantial tiger populations and habitats operating at maximum capacity.

Following Maharashtra, other states reported significant tiger deaths: Madhya Pradesh recorded 40, Uttarakhand 20, Tamil Nadu 15, and Kerala 14.

Alarmingly, 54 percent of these fatalities occurred outside tiger reserves.

India, housing over 70 percent of the globe’s wild tiger population, boasts a minimum of 3,167 tigers.

The country’s wild tiger population is increasing by 6 percent annually, counterbalancing losses due to various natural causes and maintaining equilibrium within the habitat’s carrying capacity.

The Environment Ministry highlighted the vulnerability of younger tigers, stating that 40 percent of tiger deaths in 2023 included cubs and subadults, age groups inherently subject to higher mortality rates due to land dynamics.

India currently hosts 54 tiger reserves, spanning over 78,000 square kilometers, covering more than 2.30 percent of the nation’s geographical area.

Notably, the introduction of a new tiger reserve named “Rani Durgavati” occurred this year, aimed at bolstering tiger conservation efforts.

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