Mumbai, February 27 A total of 420 people have died in attacks by wild animals in Maharashtra over the past five years, and 104 of these deaths were caused by tigers and leopards, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said on Friday.
In a written reply in the legislative council, he said that the Chandrapur district in the Vidarbha region alone recorded 47 deaths in 2025, and Rs 8.27 crore has been disbursed as financial assistance to the families of the deceased.
Chandrapur district has more than 200 tigers. From 2023-25, the district recorded 91 deaths due to tigers, while other animals were responsible for 10 fatalities, he said.
The Junnar Wildlife Division (in Pune district) recorded 27 casualties in the last seven years, Naik said.
The state government had sent a proposal to the central government to sterilize 150 leopards. After the Centre gave its in-principle approval to the proposal, the forest authorities in Junnar sterilized five leopards, he added.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to curb instances of man-animal conflict, he said.
"The government is considering using AI and modern technology on a large scale," the minister said.
