October 22, 2025
NAGPUR: Maharashtra’s big cats are in danger like never before! Between January 2022 and September 2025, a whopping 142 tigers and 537 leopards have died due to accidents, poaching, and electrocution. This eye-opening data came from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Nagpur, responding to a Right to Information (RTI) request. This year alone, till September, 35 tigers and 115 leopards have lost their lives. Compare this with 26 tiger deaths in 2024, 52 in 2023, and 29 in 2022 — the numbers remain heartbreaking. Out of the tiger deaths this year, 21 died from natural causes. But that’s not all – five died in accidents, another five were victims of electrocution and poaching, and four died due to reasons not yet known. Looking back at the total 142 tiger deaths since 2022, 84 were natural, 23 due to accidents, and a staggering 29 fell prey to poachers. "Poachers target big cats mainly for their body parts and claws, which have high value in the black market. They are also killed to prevent attacks on livestock," shared a wildlife crime analyst. Poachers use cruel methods like electrocution and traps near forest edges, adding to the dangers these animals face. Leopards are also under threat. This year, 115 leopard deaths include 44 natural causes, 42 accidents, two hunted, three electrocutions, and 21 due to other reasons. The past years saw 144 leopard deaths in 2024, 138 in 2023, and 140 in 2022. The data was revealed following an RTI application filed by Abhay Kolarkar. According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority's 2022 report, Maharashtra currently has a tiger population of 444. Officials explain that many natural deaths happen due to fights between animals, old age, or diseases. Accidental deaths mostly occur from vehicle hits and electric shocks near forest fringes. Experts blame highways and railways cutting through wildlife corridors for the high accident rate. Is Maharashtra's tiger and leopard population sliding dangerously? The numbers say yes. It’s a wake-up call to protect these royal creatures from poachers, accidents, and cruel electrocution traps. Can we save them before it’s too late?
Tags: Maharashtra, Tiger deaths, Leopard fatalities, Poaching, Electrocution, Wildlife accidents,
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