A total of 24 Royal Bengal tigers were found dead across India in January 2025, marking the highest death toll in five years. The previous year's toll for the same month stood at 20.
Data from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) revealed that two cases of poaching were reported during the month, with the carcasses of 14 big cats discovered outside the boundaries of protected tiger reserves.
Among these fatalities, an adult tiger was found dead in Kerala's Wayanad on 28 January, while another tiger, relocated from Sariska in Odisha, was discovered dead at Rajasthan's Ramgarh Tiger Reserve on 31 January.
Despite a notable rise in the tiger population over the past 18 years, the growing number of tiger deaths during the winter tourist season has raised concerns among wildlife conservationists.
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The tiger census in 2006 recorded just 1,411 tigers in India's forests, a figure that increased to 3,682 in 2022.
A senior forest department official observed that the rise in tiger mortality correlates with the growing tiger population but added, "The death toll of the big cats is alarming. Human presence and their activities during the winter were found to be responsible in many cases for the tigers’ death."
One key factor cited for the surge in tiger deaths was electrocution.
"Rabi crops are sown in fields adjoining forest areas. Farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra often cordon off their fields with electric fencing to protect their crops from animals like wild boars," the official explained.
The winter mating season also plays a role in tiger fatalities. Male tigers often engage in territorial fights, while both male and female tigers wander into buffer zones near human habitats.
"As a result, the animals often come in contact with electrical fencing and die," the official said.
The official further noted that territorial conflicts between resident and 'sneaker' tigers—those invading new areas—frequently lead to fatalities.
Kamar Kureshi, a tiger researcher, urged the government to take steps to prevent farmers from using electric fences.
"The government should provide assurances, including insurance policies, compensation packages, and surveillance measures, to gain the confidence of farmers," Kureshi suggested.
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