If the preliminary data from various government and non-government organisations is to be believed, Madhya Pradesh is likely to earn back the status of ‘Tiger State’, which the state had lost in 2014, while Maharashtra on the other hand has recorded maximum number of Tiger deaths this year.
Madhya Pradesh essentially had been a ‘tiger state’ for decades as it had a huge population of wild cats in the forests however, the tag had gone to Karnataka after the population of tigers dwindled drastically in Madhya Pradesh.
In the recently released data of geographical mapping by State Forest Research Institute, it has come to notice that tigers have been cited at 1,432 beats as opposed to 717 beats in 2014. According to forest officials looking after wildlife protection in the state, the current data suggest that the tiger population may reach over 400 in Madhya Pradesh.
“This evidence will certainly lead to more number of tigers when the actual counting of tigers is done by the year end. As per 2014 Tiger Census, the state had 308 tigers but this year it is expected to be 400,” said officials of the forest department.
While Madhya Pradesh has been working rigorously for conservation and protection of flora and fauna, tiger deaths in Maharashtra are increasing every year with 55 deaths recorded during the last four years ending in 2017. The year 2017 registered highest number of tiger deaths – 22 in the decade, informed Minister of Forest Sudhir Mungantiwar.
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According to the Government figures, in 2014 six tigers died, in 2015 it was more than double, 14 tigers died in 2016 and last year it was 22. As per recorded data, this year over 10 tigers have already died due to various reasons in the Maharashtra.
According to a Delhi-based NGO named Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), Maharashtra has ranked second highest in tiger deaths in India in 2017, while in Madhya Pradesh, many tiger corridors have been created between forest reserves and sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh.
