More than half of the tiger deaths recorded in the Vidarbha region in the last five years have occurred outside protected tiger reserves, revealed information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by Abhay Kolarkar. The data reveals that 101 out of 180 tiger deaths reported between 2021 and 2025 took place in territorial forest divisions of the region, highlighting the growing risks faced by the big cats beyond the boundaries of protected areas. Vidarbha is home to some of the country’s key tiger habitats, including Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve, Pench Tiger Reserve and Navegaon–Nagzira Tiger Reserve. While these reserves serve as core habitats for the species, the RTI data shows that a significant number of tiger deaths have been reported in surrounding forest divisions such as Chandrapur, Central Chanda, Brahmapuri, Gadchiroli, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia and Wardha.

 

 

Among these divisions, Chandrapur recorded the highest number of tiger deaths outside protected reserves at 22 during the five-year period, followed by Central Chanda with 17 deaths. Brahmapuri and Gadchiroli divisions reported 13 deaths each, while Nagpur recorded 10 tiger deaths outside protected areas during the same period. Forest officials attribute many of the deaths to natural causes such as territorial fights, disease and injuries. However, a number of cases were also linked to unnatural causes including electrocution from illegal electric fencing, poisoning and accidents involving vehicles or trains.

 

 

Wildlife experts say the pattern reflects the dispersal behaviour of tigers as populations increase within protected reserves. Young tigers often move into adjoining forest divisions in search of new territories, where they encounter landscapes with higher human presence and lower levels of protection. The trend is particularly significant in districts such as Chandrapur and Gadchiroli, which are witnessing increasing developmental activities including mining operations, road construction and industrial expansion. Experts warn that such projects are gradually fragmenting forest habitats and reducing available forest land, which could further endanger tigers moving through these landscapes. 

 

 

Conservationists stress that the findings underline the need to strengthen protection measures beyond the boundaries of tiger reserves. Protecting wildlife corridors, regulating developmental activities in sensitive forest areas and improving conflict mitigation mechanisms in villages located near forests are considered critical for reducing tiger mortality in the region.