India loses 166 tigers in 2025, Madhya Pradesh records highest deaths

India, home to the world’s largest tiger population, lost 166 tigers in 2025 , 40 more than in 2024 , according to the latest data from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Madhya Pradesh , often called the country’s ‘tiger state’, recorded the highest number of deaths at 55 , followed by Maharashtra (38), Kerala (13), and Assam (12). Of the total deaths, 31 were cubs .

Experts attribute the rise in fatalities largely to territorial infighting as tiger populations grow and available forest space becomes limited. Wildlife expert Jairam Shukla said, “The tiger population has reached a saturation point. Tigers are fighting over space, leading to a higher number of deaths, especially in Madhya Pradesh where their population has grown exponentially.”

The first tiger death in 2025 was reported from Bramhapuri forest in Maharashtra on January 2, followed by a female tiger death in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, three days later. The most recent fatality was an adult male tiger in North Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, on December 28.

According to NTCA data, natural causes accounted for the majority of deaths, particularly among cubs and young dispersing tigers. Of the 55 deaths in Madhya Pradesh, 38 were due to natural causes, including territorial fights among young males seeking new territories. Other causes included electrocution , and poaching , with 10 cases reported, of which seven were “non-targeted killings,” accidental deaths during hunting of other animals.

Authorities in Madhya Pradesh maintain a strong field patrolling system and a State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) to prevent and investigate poaching. Every tiger death is treated as a potential poaching case, and legal proceedings are underway for the 10 poaching cases in 2025, resulting in 21 arrests .

Madhya Pradesh’s tiger population has grown from 308 in 2014 to 785 in 2022. Nationally, the tiger population increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, representing about 75% of the world’s tigers . Experts warn that the high mortality among young tigers, combined with habitat saturation, could slow population growth unless measures to expand corridors and reduce territorial conflicts are implemented.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Subharanjan Sen said, “Our department investigates every incident thoroughly. Even accidental deaths are treated seriously. Young tigers are most vulnerable during dispersal, and ensuring safe corridors is critical for maintaining healthy populations.”