Mumbai: A total of 420 people died in attacks by wild animals in Maharashtra in the last five years, and 104 of these fatalities were caused by tigers and leopards, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said on Friday. In a written reply in the legislative council, he said Chandrapur district in the Vidarbha region alone recorded 47 deaths in 2025 and Rs 8.27 crore have been disbursed as financial assistance to the kin 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 sterilise 150 leopards. After the Centre gave its in-principle approval to the proposal, the forest authorities in Junnar sterilised five leopards, he added.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to curb the instances of man-animal conflict, he said. “The government is contemplating using AI and modern technology in a big way,” the minister said.
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