Lok Sabha Question No. 1743 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Reports on the Death of Tiger/Leopard
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1743

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2023

## Reports on the Death of Tiger/Leopard

## 1743. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many cases have been reported from different States regarding killing of Tiger and Leopard recently, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  sought  detailed  report  from  the  States,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) the number of said animals died during the last one year and reasons for their deaths;
- (d) whether  the  State  Governments  have  submitted  their  report  to  the  Government  in  this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken or advisory issued to the States for protection of these animals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a), (b) & (c) As  reported  by  States,  the  details  of  tiger  mortality  are  at Annexure-I .    The average life span of the tigers in the wild is generally 10-12 years and in natural ecosystem  factors like old age, diseases, internecine fights, electrocution, snaring, drowning, road, rail hits etc. and a very high infant mortality observed in big cats including tigers accounts for majority of tiger deaths.

Details regarding leopard mortality in States are not collated at the Government of India level.

- (d) & (e) Yes  Sir.    The  National  Tiger  Conservation  Authority,  through  a  dedicated Standard Operating Procedure, has a stringent protocol to ascribe cause to a tiger death,  which  is  treated  as  unnatural,  unless  otherwise  proved  by  the  State concerned through submission of necropsy reports, histopathological and forensic assessments besides photographs and circumstantial evidences. It is only after  a  detailed  analysis  of  these documents that the cause of death of tigers is ascertained.  Further, funding assistance is provided under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats to tiger range States  for  conservation  of  tigers,  raising  awareness  on  tiger  &  other  wildlife conservation, habitat management, protection, eco-development, human resource and  infrastructure  development,  voluntary  village  relocation,  as  per  sanctioned Annual Plan of Operation of the Tiger Reserve and Utilisation Certificate duly submitted by the State Government.

Annexure-I

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b) & (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1743 ON REPORTS ON THE DEATH OF TIGER/LEOPARD DUE FOR REPLY ON 31.07.2023

Number of tiger deaths in the country as reported by States, during last 5 years and current year

| Year                   |   Natural and other causes |   Confirmed poaching |   Unnatural but not poaching |
|------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------|------------------------------|
| 2018                   |                         53 |                   44 |                            4 |
| 2019                   |                         66 |                   27 |                            3 |
| 2020                   |                         90 |                   15 |                            1 |
| 2021                   |                        101 |                   18 |                            8 |
| 2022                   |                        108 |                   10 |                            3 |
| 2023 (as on 22.07.2023 |                         98 |                   12 |                            0 |

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