No drop in tiger count: Forest minister

Bad news, animal lovers. Twenty-six tigers have died in the state in the last six years due to several reasons.

But there’s a silver lining: the state forest department claims that their population hasn’t dropped from the 2010 census’s estimation of 169.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs Sudhir Mungantiwar, Girish Mahajan, Devendra Fadanvis and others had asked in the state assembly if the number of tigers has dwindled. Forest minister Patangrao Kadam, in a written reply, said the tiger population in the state rose from 103 in 2006 to 169 in 2010. Rubbishing media reports that 99 tigers have died in Maharashtra in the last six years, Kadam said only 26 tigers have died.

“All efforts are being taken to maintain the population at all four tiger reserves in the state. We also are planning a special tiger protection force at two reserves, while a tiger conservation foundation has been established at three. We are also seeking the support of the police department, the forest development corporation and NGOs,” he said.