India's Tiger Deaths Soar to 166 in 2025; MP Leads with 55 Fatalities

• India lost 166 tigers in 2025, a significant increase of 40 deaths from the previous year's 126, as per NTCA data.
• Madhya Pradesh, the 'tiger state', recorded the highest number of deaths with 55, followed by Maharashtra (38), Kerala (13), and Assam (12).
• Of the total deaths, 31 were cubs; territorial infighting due to space crunch is cited as a major cause by experts like Jairam Shukla.
• India's tiger population grew from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, leading to saturation and increased competition for territory.
• PCCF Subharanjan Sen states every death is investigated, treated as poaching unless proven otherwise, and attributes many to natural causes in young tigers.

Why It Matters: India faces a rising tiger mortality crisis, with territorial conflicts and population growth as key factors.