Territorial Clash: Rising Human-Tiger Encounters in India

Data tabled in India's Parliament reveals a troubling rise in human-tiger encounters, with 378 fatalities recorded between 2020 and 2024. Maharashtra bore the brunt, with 218 deaths, highlighting a significant human-wildlife conflict.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) reports that more than half of tiger deaths during this period occurred outside protected reserves. The issue is particularly acute in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where 111 and 90 deaths respectively were reported outside these zones.

To tackle the escalating conflict, the government is poised to launch the 'Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves' initiative, spanning 80 forest divisions across 17 states.

(With inputs from agencies.)