The conflict between humans and wildlife, especially tigers, is likely to intensify in days to come. As per the latest assessment of the Forest Department, apart from around 200 tigers in Chandrapur district alone of Vidarbha, presence of 165 tiger cubs has been reported in protected areas and outside in the region.

As per the note prepared for the recent meeting held in Mumbai and chaired by Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister, the number of tigers in Maharashtra has increased in the past few years. The 2006 estimation of tigers put the number at 103 (range of 76 to 131). The 2010 estimation pegged it at 168 (range of 155-183). The number rose further to 190 (range of 163-219) in 2014. As per the 2018 estimation, there were total 312 tigers (the number in the range of 270 to 354) in the State.

Of these 312 tigers, as many as around 200 were reported in Chandrapur district alone and 20-24 adult and cub tigers in neighbouring Gadchiroli district. This issue came up for discussion in the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister. The report submitted by a special study group and approved by State Board for Wild Life, also figured in the discussion and it was decided to implement the measures recommended in the report.

However, data placed in the meeting hinted at further intensification of human-wildlife conflict especially in Vidarbha region in days to come. As per the data, presence of 165 tiger cubs has been reported in protected areas and outside in Vidarbha. In the past six months, presence of five cubs was reported in Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR). Besides, 30 cubs were spotted in buffer area and 25 in core area of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), 24 in Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), 13 in Tipeshwar Sanctuary; 34 in Chandrapur, Brahmapuri, and Central Chanda Territorial Divisions of Chandrapur district; 26 in Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), seven in Umred-Paoni-Karandla Sanctuary, and one in Bor Sanctuary. Once the cubs grow up, they start searching for their territory. Apart from them

moving into human habitations, there is likelihood of territorial fights among tigers resulting in deaths of the big cats.