India lost 24 tigers between January 1 & February 8

DEHRADUN: In a worrying statistic, India has lost 24 tigers in a short span of just over a month this year – between January 1 and February 8. This makes it the highest number of big cat fatalities at the beginning of a year in the past three years. Data accessed by TOI from National Tiger Conservation Authority, apex body for preservation of the felines, reveals that 16 tigers had died in the corresponding period last year while 20 deaths were reported in the same time span in 2021.

The maximum deaths this year were reported from MP (nine) followed by Maharashtra (six), Rajasthan (three), Karnataka (two), Uttarakhand (two) and one each from Assam and Kerala.

Incidentally, January has seen maximum tiger deaths in the past decade. NTCA data reveals that between 2012-2022, 128 tigers died in January while March (123) and May (113) saw the next highest number of fatalities.

As for the cause, the majority of the deaths are reported to be due to ‘natural causes’, including territorial fights and ageing although officials say they are scrutinising the data to ensure poaching linkages are not missed out either.

“Considering a population of over 3,000 tigers countrywide, the deaths of a few are normal. But the high number of deaths in a short time span is striking and therefore, they are being investigated as per protocol,” said an NTCA official.