In 2023, India recorded the highest number of wild tiger deaths in the past decade.
According to data from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the country reported 163 tiger deaths in the first 11 months of 2023. Among these, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of tiger fatalities, with 40 and 38 individuals, respectively.
This is the highest number of tiger deaths recorded since 2012. Previously, in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, India recorded 120, 127, and 121 tiger deaths, respectively.
Wildlife experts indicate that the actual number of tiger deaths in India for 2023 could be even higher, as many cases remain unreported or undocumented, particularly in remote and inaccessible forest areas.
The number of tiger deaths in India spiked dramatically in 2023. (Illustrative image: Getty).
Among the 163 tiger deaths reported in the first 11 months of 2023, there were 28 tiger cubs and at least 10 juvenile tigers that did not survive. Wildlife experts are concerned that the high number of cub and juvenile tiger fatalities could directly impact the reproductive capacity of the tiger population in India.
At least 78 tiger deaths were reported in various tiger reserves across India, while 86 deaths occurred outside these reserves. Many of these cases involved conflicts with humans over habitat competition, leading to fatalities caused by human actions.
According to NTCA officials, there are multiple reasons for tiger deaths, including poaching, habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and disease.
“The tiger population in India is growing, which results in an increase in tiger deaths. However, the rise in deaths to the highest level in a decade is concerning and signals an urgent need for conservation efforts,” shared SP. Yadav, director of the NTCA.
Yadav stated that the average lifespan of tigers in the wild in India is between 10 to 12 years, which means that among the 163 reported deaths in the first 11 months of 2023, several were due to old age.
The high number of cub deaths in 2023 indicates a potential increase in the birth rate of tigers in India. According to scientists, only 50% of tiger cubs born survive to adulthood.
However, wildlife experts emphasize that the increase in tiger deaths in India is a serious concern that raises alarm about the conservation status of this species.
“While officials may argue that the rise in tiger mortality could be due to old age or natural causes, thorough investigations into the reasons for these deaths are essential to ensure the sustainability of the tiger population,” commented an Indian wildlife expert. “It is crucial to identify the causes to implement appropriate conservation measures.”
India is home to two-thirds of the world’s wild tiger population. According to a census conducted at the end of 2022, there are 3,682 tigers in India, an increase from 2,967 in 2018. Madhya Pradesh has the largest tiger population in India, with 785 individuals, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).
The increase in tiger numbers has led to more human-tiger conflicts. Many residents living in villages near forests and nature reserves in India have been attacked and preyed upon by tigers.
People have tried various methods to scare off or kill tigers that encroach upon their villages; however, the law in India strictly prohibits harm to wildlife, and offenders may face imprisonment.
