Maharashtra's Tiger Population Projected to Surpass 600 in Next Census: Fadnavis Outlines Conservation Strategy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Wednesday that Maharashtra’s tiger population is expected to rise above 600 in the upcoming census, marking a significant increase from the current count of 444. Speaking at the International Tiger Day Summit organized by the Forest Department at IIM-Nagpur, Fadnavis emphasized a five-point strategy aimed at enhancing tiger conservation efforts. The summit, attended by experts and delegates from countries like Cambodia, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, highlighted Maharashtra’s progress in wildlife protection. Fadnavis highlighted the role of scientific conservation in creating a sustainable ecosystem for tigers, biodiversity, and tourism. He noted that villages within the state’s six tiger reserves had been relocated to reduce human-tiger conflict, with new buffer zones established. Advanced technologies such as camera tracking and an AI-based early warning system were deployed to further minimize interactions between humans and tigers. The chief minister also underscored the importance of making conservation a "value proposition" for local communities. He pointed out that villagers, once resistant to relocation, are now expressing willingness to shift to new areas if provided with opportunities. “The tables have turned,” Fadnavis remarked, noting that the shift reflects growing acceptance of conservation efforts. The five-point strategy includes measures to reduce man-animal conflict, a green livelihood mission for communities near tiger habitats, a CSR policy to channel corporate funds into conservation, a sustainable tourism policy to generate employment, and funding for forest protection alongside tourism initiatives.#devendra_fadnavis #forest_department #ganesh_naik #iim_nagpur #asiatic_big_cat_society
