2 weeks Ago By Vijay Pinjarkar
A wildlife expert stressed the need to address habitat challenges and human-wildlife conflicts to ensure the long-term survival of India’s tigers NAGPUR: An analysis by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has revealed a 37% decline in tiger mortalities in India, with 115 deaths reported so far in 2024 compared to 182 in 2023. Poaching cases have decreased from 17 last year to four this year. The death count included both natural and unnatural reasons, as NTCA's website has yet to specify causes of tiger fatalities, such as territorial conflicts, accidents, poisoning, or electrocution.
NTCA officials highlighted gaps in data reporting. "The states have been tardy in submitting data on precise causes of death and sending forensic reports," an official said. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra continued to record the highest tiger deaths, with MP reporting 46 fatalities this year, slightly up from 43 in 2023.
Maharashtra saw a 50% reduction, with 23 deaths in 2024 compared to 46 last year. Karnataka reported 11 deaths, one fewer than last year. Dr Bilal Habib, a scientist at Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun, attributed the decline in poaching-related deaths to effective measures and conservation efforts.
"Currently, a large proportion of tiger deaths can be attributed to natural causes, suggesting potential stabilisation of populations in certain regions. This trend emphasises the need to sustain efforts in habitat protection while addressing emerging challenges, such as human-wildlife conflict and habitat fragmentation," Habib said. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India .
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