Numberspeak | Human Deaths in Tiger Attacks Increased Five-Fold Since 2018; Two Deaths a Week in 2022

At least two people died every week in 2022 due to tiger attacks, according to data from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The data, analysed by News18, also shows that the number of deaths per year has increased five times between 2018 and 2022.

Among the states, Maharashtra has suffered most human deaths due to tiger attacks, accounting for about 70-75% in the last few years.

In 2022, there were exceptionally high human deaths due to tiger attacks when compared to the last few years. Out of the 112 people killed in 2022, 85 were from Maharashtra. Next in line was Uttar Pradesh with 11 such deaths.

According to the ministry, the main reasons for human-wildlife conflict included degradation of the habitat, depletion of the natural prey base, resource use in the wildlife habitat by human beings for various reasons as well as increase in population of wild animals due to sustained protection efforts.

As per the latest All India Tiger Estimation 2022 Report, the estimated tiger population in India is 3,682 (with lower limit 3,167 and upper limit 3,925). In 2018, tiger population in India was estimated to be 2,967 (being lower and upper limits 2,603 to 3,346). Tiger population is increasing at a rate of 6% per annum in India when compared from 2006 to 2018.

2022 Saw One Tiger Death Every Third Day

In 2022, 121 tigers died – one tiger every third day, according to the ministry data. Between 2018 and 2022, a total of 550 tigers died, making it 110 deaths annually on average.

At least 128 tigers died due to natural causes, while 114 died due to poaching. A total of 290 cases were under scrutiny as per latest details from the ministry.

Explaining the high rate of cases under scrutiny, the ministry said the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) follows a stringent protocol in assigning the cause of tiger death. It involves collection of visceral samples, post mortem of carcass, histopathological analysis, and circumstantial evidence.

Unless all the relevant documents and supporting documents are submitted by the states the tiger mortality cases are put under the category under scrutiny.