Maharashtra Tiger Deaths: 8 Deaths in January 2024 Include Suspected Poaching Cases
Just as Maharashtra was being applauded for the dramatic increase in tiger population in the last 15 years (from approximately 150 to 444 in 202, the news of as many as eight big cats found dead in a short span, between January 2 and 19, came as a jolt to the conservation community. They include two male cubs, a female cub, and the rest, adult tigers. At least two of these deaths are distinctly suspicious.
On January 2, a male tiger was found dead in the Chandrapur Bramhapuri Sindewahi forest area; the forest department said the tiger died of old age. But on January 6, a dead tiger was found in the Tumsar forest area of Bhandara district, its body cut in four. Investigation revealed that villagers had killed the tiger in retaliation after the animal preyed on livestock; three persons were arrested in this case. The next day, another tiger was found dead in a coal mine in the Pandharkawada forest range of Yavatmal district; two of its canines and 12 claws were missing, raising suspicion that it was a case of poaching.
Later, on January 8, a cub was found dead in the Deolapar forest range of the Pench tiger reserve, which forest officials attributed to natural causes. The fifth death was that of a tigress at the Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve on January 9; as its body was intact, forest officers believe this death could have been the result of infighting.
On January 14, an adult male tiger was mysteriously found dead in the Kohka Bhanpur area of Gondia forest range. The next day, the decayed body of a cub was found in the Deolapar forest range, the cause of which is still unknown. Finally, on January 19, a tiger died after it was hot by a train on the Balharshah-Gondia rail route.
Out of these eight deaths, one is clearly a case of retaliatory killing. But the two likely cases of poaching (January 6 and January 14) have conservationists concerned that they could indicate the revival of tiger poaching gangs.
The director of the Bombay Natural History Society, Kishor Rithe, who has worked for over 30 years on tiger conservation, said, “More than the number of tiger deaths, the cause of each death is important. Two of the eight deaths are prima facie poaching cases.” The forest department, added Rithe, must investigate immediately into the incidents to establish who is responsible: people within Maharashtra or poaching gangs from other States, such as Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. If there is indeed a doubt that poaching gangs are involved in the two deaths, “the government should involve multiple agencies and also alert [forest departments] across the country,” said Rithe.
Also Read | When Zeenat the tigress took a long stroll from Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve
A senior forest officer (now retired) from Maharashtra told Frontline, “If known poaching gangs are involved in the recent cases, it points to a failure of intelligence, as some of them have been under watch for several years. And if they are now responsible for killing tigers again and transporting animal parts from one location to another, then it is certainly worrisome.”
Rithe pointed out that poaching appears to increase during the year-end and beginning of the new year, due to the increase in tourism. “During this time, forest officers remain busy controlling tourists. Winter vacations make matters easy for poachers, which is perhaps why, every year, around January, we see news of an increase in tiger mortality,” said Rithe.
Maharashtra has the fourth highest number of tigers among all States, with six dedicated tiger reserves spanning 9,113 sq km.
Delays in compensation
As for retaliatory killing, which on occasion takes place after a tiger kills livestock, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has clear guidelines on compensating farmers. But there are notorious bureaucratic delays in compensation, which only exacerbate human-tiger conflict. “The only solution in these cases is to ensure the government machinery is made capable and sensitive,” said Kedar Gore, director of the Corbett Foundation. “If there is a complaint that livestock has been killed by a tiger, the government should act fast and make sure the farmer receives compensation quickly.”
Also Read | ‘Not amrit kaal for tiger science in India’: K. Ullas Karanth
Conservationists also point out that deaths occur due to territorial fights between tigers as they move from one area to another. “A tiger needs a large area to survive. It often moves to new territories when it encounters another tiger, and it is during this movement that conflicts arise with other tigers as well as humans,” Gore explained. This movement is challenging to forest officers as they try to track the animal. “Tagging every tiger with a radio collar is not possible. So, making wildlife corridors safe, and sensitising people who live around these forests about the tiger’s behaviour can help,” said Gore.
Former member of Maharashtra’s wildlife board Kundan Hate believes forest department officials need greater government support. “The forest department staff is overloaded with work, and the political leadership does not heed this,” said Hate.
Meanwhile, the Forest Minister of Maharashtra, Ganesh Naik, has acknowledged the troubling tiger deaths. “The investigation of tiger deaths is going on. Each case is being investigated. We are also involving the experts outside the government,” said Naik.
Just as Maharashtra was being applauded for the dramatic increase in tiger population in the last 15 years (from approximately 150 to 444 in 202, the news of as many as eight big cats found dead in a short span, between January 2 and 19, came as a jolt to the conservation community. They include two male cubs, a female cub, and the rest, adult tigers. At least two of these deaths are distinctly suspicious.
On January 2, a male tiger was found dead in the Chandrapur Bramhapuri Sindewahi forest area; the forest department said the tiger died of old age. But on January 6, a dead tiger was found in the Tumsar forest area of Bhandara district, its body cut in four. Investigation revealed that villagers had killed the tiger in retaliation after the animal preyed on livestock; three persons were arrested in this case. The next day, another tiger was found dead in a coal mine in the Pandharkawada forest range of Yavatmal district; two of its canines and 12 claws were missing, raising suspicion that it was a case of poaching.
Later, on January 8, a cub was found dead in the Deolapar forest range of the Pench tiger reserve, which forest officials attributed to natural causes. The fifth death was that of a tigress at the Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve on January 9; as its body was intact, forest officers believe this death could have been the result of infighting.
On January 14, an adult male tiger was mysteriously found dead in the Kohka Bhanpur area of Gondia forest range. The next day, the decayed body of a cub was found in the Deolapar forest range, the cause of which is still unknown. Finally, on January 19, a tiger died after it was hot by a train on the Balharshah-Gondia rail route.
Out of these eight deaths, one is clearly a case of retaliatory killing. But the two likely cases of poaching (January 6 and January 14) have conservationists concerned that they could indicate the revival of tiger poaching gangs.
The director of the Bombay Natural History Society, Kishor Rithe, who has worked for over 30 years on tiger conservation, said, “More than the number of tiger deaths, the cause of each death is important. Two of the eight deaths are prima facie poaching cases.” The forest department, added Rithe, must investigate immediately into the incidents to establish who is responsible: people within Maharashtra or poaching gangs from other States, such as Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. If there is indeed a doubt that poaching gangs are involved in the two deaths, “the government should involve multiple agencies and also alert [forest departments] across the country,” said Rithe.
Also Read | When Zeenat the tigress took a long stroll from Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve
A senior forest officer (now retired) from Maharashtra told Frontline, “If known poaching gangs are involved in the recent cases, it points to a failure of intelligence, as some of them have been under watch for several years. And if they are now responsible for killing tigers again and transporting animal parts from one location to another, then it is certainly worrisome.”
Rithe pointed out that poaching appears to increase during the year-end and beginning of the new year, due to the increase in tourism. “During this time, forest officers remain busy controlling tourists. Winter vacations make matters easy for poachers, which is perhaps why, every year, around January, we see news of an increase in tiger mortality,” said Rithe.
Maharashtra has the fourth highest number of tigers among all States, with six dedicated tiger reserves spanning 9,113 sq km.
Delays in compensation
As for retaliatory killing, which on occasion takes place after a tiger kills livestock, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has clear guidelines on compensating farmers. But there are notorious bureaucratic delays in compensation, which only exacerbate human-tiger conflict. “The only solution in these cases is to ensure the government machinery is made capable and sensitive,” said Kedar Gore, director of the Corbett Foundation. “If there is a complaint that livestock has been killed by a tiger, the government should act fast and make sure the farmer receives compensation quickly.”
Also Read | ‘Not amrit kaal for tiger science in India’: K. Ullas Karanth
Conservationists also point out that deaths occur due to territorial fights between tigers as they move from one area to another. “A tiger needs a large area to survive. It often moves to new territories when it encounters another tiger, and it is during this movement that conflicts arise with other tigers as well as humans,” Gore explained. This movement is challenging to forest officers as they try to track the animal. “Tagging every tiger with a radio collar is not possible. So, making wildlife corridors safe, and sensitising people who live around these forests about the tiger’s behaviour can help,” said Gore.
Former member of Maharashtra’s wildlife board Kundan Hate believes forest department officials need greater government support. “The forest department staff is overloaded with work, and the political leadership does not heed this,” said Hate.
Meanwhile, the Forest Minister of Maharashtra, Ganesh Naik, has acknowledged the troubling tiger deaths. “The investigation of tiger deaths is going on. Each case is being investigated. We are also involving the experts outside the government,” said Naik.
