27 February,2026 10:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik. File Pic
As many as 420 people were killed in wild animal attacks across the state over the past five years, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said in the state Legislative Council on Day 5 of the Maharashtra Budget Session 2026, reported PTI.
He mentioned that 248 people lost their lives in attacks by tigers in Maharashtra and 104 died in leopards attacks.
In a written reply to the Legislative Council, he stated that Chandrapur district in the Vidarbha region alone reported 47 fatalities in 2025, with Rs 8.27 crore disbursed as compensation to the victims' families.
Chandrapur district has more than 200 tigers. Between 2023 and 2025, the district recorded 91 deaths due to tiger attacks, while other wild animals were responsible for 10 fatalities, he said, reported PTI.
The Junnar Wildlife Division in Pune district recorded 27 casualties over the last seven years, Naik added.
The state government had sent a proposal to the Centre seeking permission to sterilise 150 leopards. After receiving in-principle approval, forest authorities in Junnar sterilised five leopards, he said.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to curb instances of man-animal conflict, the minister said.
"The government is contemplating using AI and modern technology in a big way," he added, reported PTI.
A total of 41 tigers died in Maharashtra in 2025, with most succumbing to natural causes, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik told the Assembly on Wednesday, reported the PTI.
The government is stepping up efforts to prevent tiger deaths caused by accidents, electrocution, and poaching.
According to the minister, of the 41 tiger deaths 28 were due to natural causes, 8 were accidental deaths, 4 were caused by electrocution, 1 resulted from poaching.
The minister highlighted the Ballarshah-Gondia railway line, which passes through sensitive forest divisions and buffer zones of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve. Between 2011 and 2025, five tigers were killed along this route, as per the PTI.
Statistics show that five tigers lost their lives on this specific railway route between 2011 and 2025, he said.
To prevent railway-related wildlife deaths, the Chief Conservator of Forests (Regional), Chandrapur, has formally communicated with the railways.
(With PTI inputs)
