India Records 166 Tiger Deaths in 2025; Madhya Pradesh Leads with 55 Fatalities

• India reported 166 tiger deaths in 2025, a significant increase of 40 from 126 deaths in 2024.
• Madhya Pradesh, the 'Tiger State', recorded the highest deaths with 55, followed by Maharashtra (38), Kerala (13), and Assam (12).
• Experts attribute the rise in deaths primarily to territorial conflicts among tigers, as their population reaches saturation point and forest space becomes limited.
• India's tiger population grew from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022; Madhya Pradesh alone saw its tiger count rise from 308 (2014) to 785 (2022).
• Authorities like NTCA and MP's Forest Department are implementing robust patrolling, SOPs, and a State Tiger Strike Force to investigate every death and combat poaching.

Why It Matters: Rising tiger population leads to territorial conflicts, causing a surge in deaths, especially in MP.