Man-animal conflict claims 420 lives in Maharashtra, Chandrapur worst hit

This is a troubling report on the growing man-animal conflict in Maharashtra , which has affected at least 420 families over the past five years through fatal attacks and thousands more through injuries, fear-driven displacement, and loss of livelihood in forest-border villages.

According to Forest Minister Ganesh Naik , tigers have caused the maximum damage , being responsible for 248 deaths, more than half of all wildlife-related fatalities in the state . Leopards accounted for another 104 deaths , making big cats the primary drivers of human casualties.

The worst-hit region is Chandrapur district , where over 200 tigers inhabit surrounding forests and 47 people were killed in 2025 alone . Between 2023 and 2025, the district recorded 91 deaths from tiger attacks , showing how intense and sustained the conflict has become.

Officials say the impact goes beyond deaths, as frequent encounters have disrupted farming, daily movement, and school attendance in affected villages. The government has paid Rs 8.27 crore in compensation to victims’ families in Chandrapur and is now turning to AI-based monitoring, leopard sterilisation, and water conservation projects inside forests to prevent animals from entering human settlements.