Representational file image. Photo: Special Arrangement
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Wednesday, replying to a debate, said that the State’s tiger count had increased to 444 this year from 101 in 2000. The increase in the tiger population was one of the reasons for the rise in man-animal conflicts, with fatal attacks on humans, the Minister said.
Mr. Naik also said he had written Anant Ambani, businessman and founder of the non-profit Vantara, to set up an “animal museum” in Maharashtra.
Also read | Can we democratise tiger conservation in India?
Mr. Naik was responding to questions from Congress legislator Vijay Wadettiwar on the floor of the Assembly.
He referred to two incidents of human-animal conflict in five days, when a tiger had fatally attacked a human.
Mr. Wadettiwar asked Mr. Naik what the government had been doing for the protection and safety of farmers dwelling near forested areas, including a wildlife sanctuary near Bhandara.
“Tiger attacks have created fear in farmers, and [are] destroying crops as well,” Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said. He also asked Mr. Naik who had directed the release of a tigress into the forest despite opposition.
Mr. Naik said the tigress’s two-year-old cub had attacked humans, and would soon be captured.
The Minister also said that he would be approving the creation of a museum on lines of the non-profit Vantara, and a home for animals in Gujarat, where businesspersons could start an “animal museum”. “I have written a letter to businessman Anant Ambani, founder of Vantara, and asked if something like this can be done here,” Mr. Naik said.
He said the government had approved funds of ₹200 crore for solar fencing villages near tiger zones.
Mr. Naik assured the House that the Forest Department was taking necessary steps to prevent any incidents of human-animal conflict, commencing with a change in policy, with farmers required to pay only a nominal sum for solar fencing. “I have already instructed that villages near forests should be fenced without charge,” the Minister said.
Speaker Rahul Narwekar agreed to convene a meeting for further discussions.
Published – March 05, 2025 11:07 pm IST