In a year of mixed fortunes for wildlife conservation, Madhya Pradesh saw 55 tigers perish in 2025, but 38 deaths stemmed from natural factors amid a booming population. Known as the Tiger State, MP leads India with the largest tiger count, proving its strategies work.
Tiger numbers exploded by nearly 50 percent in MP between 2018 and 2022, far surpassing the country’s 24 percent rise. With an annual growth of over 12 percent—twice the national figure—MP’s reserves are thriving. Conservationists note that higher detection of deaths signals better vigilance, not poorer outcomes.
Breaking down the fatalities: 69 percent were natural, from infighting and diseases to road accidents and aging. Poaching incidents totaled 11, often accidental via electric fences for farms, while deliberate killings for skins and bones accounted for six cases. Quick action by rangers resulted in recoveries and detentions.
India’s tiger tally hit 3,682 in 2022, 785 of them in MP. Protected areas here—spanning tiger reserves, parks, and sanctuaries—feature camera traps, anti-poaching patrols, and community programs to reduce human-wildlife clashes. Despite losses, the upward trajectory reassures experts that MP remains a conservation powerhouse.