According to Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, of the 41 tiger deaths 28 were due to natural causes, 8 were accidental deaths, 4 were caused by electrocution, 1 resulted from poaching
Statistics show that five tigers lost their lives on this specific railway route between 2011 and 2025. Representational Pic/File
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.
Proposed steps include
- Construction of underpasses and overpasses on new railway lines for safe animal movement
- Enforcement of a 40 kmph speed limit for trains in sensitive forest zones
- Proper disposal of food waste by passengers to avoid attracting wildlife near tracks
Tackling human-wildlife conflict
Naik noted that effective conservation has increased wildlife populations, which has also raised the risk of migration-related human–wildlife conflict. To manage this, the government has submitted a proposal to recruit 368 personnel on a contract basis for Rapid Rescue Units (RRU), Tiger Cell (TCC), Elephant Tracking Teams, high-tech monitoring and anti-poaching measures, the news agency reported.
Current measures to protect tigers include:
- M-Stripes mobile-based monitoring system to track suspicious activity
- Strengthened Wildlife Crime Cell in Nagpur
- Cyber Cell in Melghat using digital footprints to track poachers
- Deployment of Special Tiger Protection Forces (STPF), dog squads, and metal detectors to detect traps near waterholes
Naik added that district-level tiger committees meet regularly to refine protection strategies, and a Secret Service Fund maintains a network of informants at the range level.
"To prevent the deaths of wild animals in railway accidents, the Chief Conservator of Forests (Regional), Chandrapur, has formally communicated with the Railway Department to implement specific safety measures," Naik stated in his reply, according to the PTI.
(with PTI inputs)
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