India Loses 162 Tigers in 2025 With Madhya Pradesh Recording Highest Ever 54 Deaths

India has witnessed a sharp rise in tiger deaths in 2025, with official data showing 162 fatalities recorded till mid-December. This figure is significantly higher than the 126 deaths reported in 2024 and dangerously close to the 10-year high of 182 tiger deaths seen in 2023. Conservationists say the trend highlights both conservation success and growing management challenges.

Uttarakhand has emerged as a major concern, particularly around the Corbett Tiger Reserve, which continues to report the highest density of tiger deaths. In 2025 alone, 19 tigers have died in the state, even before the year has ended. Over the past three years, Uttarakhand has recorded 57 tiger deaths, averaging nearly one fatality every month.

Madhya Pradesh has reported the highest number of tiger deaths nationwide, with 54 fatalities in 2025. Maharashtra followed with approximately 36 deaths, while Karnataka recorded 15, Kerala 13, and Tamil Nadu around 10 tiger deaths during the same period. Notably, states with the largest tiger populations are also witnessing the highest mortality figures.

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Wildlife experts attribute the rising death toll largely to increasing tiger populations due to successful conservation efforts. According to scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, Corbett acts as a major “source area,” where high reproduction rates lead to tiger dispersal into nearby regions. However, this growth has also exposed gaps in habitat management, monitoring, and enforcement.

Despite the worrying numbers, officials note some positive developments. Most recent tiger deaths in Uttarakhand are attributed to natural causes, while poaching cases have declined significantly. Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said continuous conservation efforts have helped the state achieve one of the fastest-growing tiger populations in the country.

According to national data, nearly 50% of tiger deaths occur within protected reserves, while 42% take place outside these areas. Conservationists stress that strengthening protection beyond reserve boundaries is crucial. While declining poaching offers hope, experts warn that sustained intervention is essential to ensure India’s growing tiger population does not come at the cost of rising mortality.

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