Mumbai, February 27 A total of 420 people were killed in attacks by wild animals in Maharashtra over the past five years, with 248 – more than half of these deaths – being caused solely by tigers, and another 104 by leopards, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said on Friday.
In a written reply to the legislative council, he stated 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.
"In the last five years, 420 people died in the state due to attacks by wild animals. Of these, 248 died due to attacks by tigers and 104 by leopards," Naik said in the written response.
Listing out steps taken to curb instances of man-animal conflict, Naik said the state had sent a proposal to the central government to sterilise 150 leopards. After the Centre gave its in-principle approval to the proposal, the forest authorities in Junnar sterilised five leopards.
He added that the forest department has made provisions for drinking water, such as creating artificial ponds and building check dams.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to curb instances of man-animal conflict, he said.
"The government is considering using AI and modern technology extensively," the minister said.
BJP legislator Parinay Phuke suggested that stray dogs from cities should be released in forests so that wild animals don't venture out of the forest in search of food. However, this suggestion was rejected by Naik.
"There is no provision in the law to release (stray) dogs in the forests," he said.
