Nagpur: According to the Phase IV monitoring project titled ‘Long-term monitoring of tigers, co-predators, and prey in tiger reserves and other tiger bearing areas of Vidarbha & Maharashtra’, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under the aegis of the state forest department, the minimum number of tigers in Maharashtra is 390 and the estimated number is 446. Similarly, the minimum number of leopards in Vidarbha is 706 and the estimated number is 902.
The report indicates an increase in the population of tigers and leopards in the region as compared to the previous report in 2021.
Gold Rate
24 May 2025
The report highlights that several Protected Areas (PAs) in Maharashtra have stable tiger populations, while Gadchiroli, Melghat Tiger Reserve, and Bramhapuri division have shown an upward trend in tiger numbers. The increase in numbers is attributed to curbs on organized poaching and habitat management works, leading to an increase in the survival rate of tiger cubs.
The report also acknowledges the challenge of man-animal conflict and the need for translocation of tigers to address the issue. Maharashtra is a significant contributor to the Central Indian Landscape’s (CIL) meta population of tigers, which has the world’s highest number of tigers, with 1,161 individuals.
Overall, the report’s findings are positive and reflect the state forest department’s efforts to conserve tigers and leopards in the region. However, ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts are necessary to ensure the long-term survival of these magnificent big cats
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently released the Tiger Status Report 2022, according to which the tiger population in the country has crossed 3,000. As per the report, Central Indian Highlands and Eastern Ghats which also consist the entire Maharashtra, recorded the highest 1,161 tigers. With 446 tiger population estimated, Maharashtra has the highest tiger count in Central Indian Highlands and Eastern Ghats.
According to WII, there are a minimum 390 tigers in Maharashtra and the estimated number varies between 403 and 489. Maharashtra recorded a considerable increase in tiger population in each of the last four consecutive tiger census. As per the Tiger Status Report 2022, there were 103 tigers in 2006, 168 tigers in 2010, 190 tigers in 2014 and 312 tigers in 2018.
As per the study, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) that comes under the Chandrapur Forest Circle, has the highest 87 (minimum) tigers. Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), which comes under the jurisdiction of Amravati Forest Circle, has 55 tigers, and Bramhapuri Forest Circle has 53 of them. The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) under the Nagpur Forest Circle has 41 tigers, which is a decline since the last census in 2018. However, the tiger population in PTR may change as the tiger reserve is spread over two states — Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
No major change was observed in Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) where the tiger count is lowest — 12. Chandrapur Forest Circle, which includes Central Chanda (10 tigers), Warora Bhadravati range (13), Rajura Block (02), Kanhalgaon Block (12) and Junona Block (21), recorded the majority of tiger population in the state. Chandrapur district which has the highest tiger count in the state, is also suffering with the highest number of incidents of man-animal conflict due to increase of tiger population and decrease of their habitats in recent times.
