Nagpur: The year 2025 has begun on a grim note for big cats in Maharashtra, with two more tiger deaths reported in Vidarbha on Wednesday. These incidents have brought the total number of tiger deaths in the state to 11 within the first 22 days of the year, all from Vidarbha.
In the first incident, a tiger cub was killed in a hit-and-run accident near Dhondgaon village on the Samudrapur-Girad highway in Wardha district. The cub, one of three born to a tigress, was crossing the road during the early hours when it was struck by an unidentified vehicle. Senior forest officials, including DCF Wardha Harveer Singh, ACF Amarjeet Pawar, and RFO Rupesh Khedkar, visited the site along with wildlife experts like former State Wildlife Board member Bandu Dhotre and honorary wildlife warden Sanjay Ingle Tigaonkar.
A post-mortem was conducted at Nirikshan Kutti by a team of four veterinary doctors. A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, and efforts are underway to identify the vehicle involved in the accident.
The second incident occurred in the Surewahi forest under the Nangalwadi range of the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) buffer zone, where a decomposed tiger carcass was discovered. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, it was challenging to determine the gender and cause of death. However, forest officials ruled out poaching, as all body parts were found intact. PTR Deputy Conservator of Forests and Field Director Prabhunath Shukla, along with senior officials, conducted a post-mortem and collected samples for forensic analysis to establish the cause of death.
Alarming statistics
Maharashtra has now reported 11 of the 17 tiger deaths in the country this year, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to wildlife fatalities.
Wildlife activist Bandu Dhotre emphasized the need for immediate measures to prevent such tragedies, particularly in areas with frequent tiger movement. “These incidents highlight the urgent need for mitigation measures, including speed regulations, the conservation of wildlife corridors, and public awareness campaigns to protect endangered species,” he said.
The back-to-back incidents have reignited concerns about the safety of wildlife in Vidarbha, which is home to several critical tiger habitats. Forest officials and conservationists have called for enhanced monitoring and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection measures to safeguard the region’s iconic big cats.