The Maharashtra government has informed the assembly that the state has recorded 41 tiger deaths in 2025, raising fresh concerns among conservationists and conservation authorities. In neighboring Madhya Pradesh, eight tigers died in just 10 weeks or 2.5 months from 2025 to early 2026 in the Bandhavgarh Reserve, according to a report submitted to the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Death of Maharashtra Tigers
Forest Minister Ganesh Naik told the Maharashtra assembly on Thursday, February 26 that most of the 41 tigers died due to natural causes and the government is stepping up efforts to reduce deaths due to accidents, electrocution and poaching.
The minister mentioned that out of 41 tigers, 28 died of natural causes, eight others due to accidents, four due to electrocution and one due to poaching.
Highlighting the vulnerability of the Ballarshah-Gondia railway line, the Maharashtra minister said five tigers had lost their lives between 2011 and 2025 due to the line. Also read | 72 tigers die in outbreak of deadly virus in Thailand; popular tourist attraction Chiang Mai park closed — What we know
“To prevent the death of wild animals in railway accidents, the Chief Conservator of Forests (Regional), Chandrapur, has formally communicated with the Railway Department to put in place concrete safety measures,” Ganesh Naik said in his reply.
Death of the Bandhavgarh tiger
The status report said that while four tigers died in the reserve, the remaining four lost their lives in the “general forest area”.
In the Bandhavgarh reserve, all four tigers died of natural causes – between November 21, 2025 and February 2 this year. While two died from mutual conflicts, one drowned in a well and another succumbed to disease.
Another four died as a result of electrocution.
What does the government do?
In Maharashtra, the minister proposed the construction of underpasses and flyovers on newly designed railway lines; enforcement of a speed limit of 40 km/h for trains passing through sensitive forest zones; by proper disposal of food waste by train passengers to ensure that animals are not lured to the tracks, PTI reported.
The petition was filed by Bhopal-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.
According to the petition, the tiger population in the world is 5,421, of which 3,167 are in India. According to the latest census, Madhya Pradesh has 785 tigers. Despite being a tiger state, 54 tigers died in Madhya Pradesh in 2025, the petition said.
The state reported 43 tiger deaths in 2022, 45 in 2023 and 46 in 2024, Dubey said. The highest number of tiger deaths in the state since the launch of Project Tiger has occurred in 2025, the petitioner claimed.
