Tiger Attacks: 11 Killed in 17 Days in Chandrapur, Maharashtra
Rising tiger attacks in Chandrapur highlight the need to balance human safety with wildlife protection by following forest rules and respecting animal habitats.
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, is one of India’s most popular places for tiger safaris. Out of Maharashtra’s 444 tigers, over 100 live in this reserve. But recently, this area has seen a rise in conflicts between humans and wild animals, especially tigers. This has created concern for the Forest Department and local people.
In May 2025 alone, 11 people were killed in Chandrapur district due to tiger attacks. Across India, around 22 people have lost their lives this year in such incidents. Since 2021, over 150 deaths have been reported. One major reason for this is the rising tiger population. In Chandrapur, the number of tigers has gone from 34 in 2006 to 223 in 2021. In Maharashtra, the count has grown from 103 in 2006 to 444 in 2025.
These attacks started with the deaths of three women—Kantabai Choudhary, her daughter-in-law Shubhangi, and Sarika Shende—who had gone into the forest to collect tendu leaves, which are used to make beedis. Many villagers collect these leaves in May to earn money. Sadly, they were attacked by a tiger deep in the forest. This left families broken, like Manoj Choudhary, who lost both his mother and wife.
Villagers protested after the incident and demanded action. Politicians like Vijay Wadettiwar and Kishor Jorgewar blamed forest officers for not relocating tigers even after the population increased. In response, forest officials have now installed trap cameras and changed the forest entry timing to 8 am–5 pm, as tigers are more active in the evenings and at night.
But to truly understand the situation, we must also look at it from the tiger’s point of view. Dr. Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Chief Conservator of Forests in Chandrapur, explained that nearly 50,000–60,000 people enter the forest during the tendu leaf season. The forest has more than 150 tigers, so the risk of coming across one is high. Most attacks happen deep in the forest, not near villages. Tigers are not coming out to attack people; people are going inside their home—the jungle.
Also, many people don’t follow forest rules and even sleep out in the open in tiger areas. Similar cases have been seen in other countries too. In Namibia, a tourist was killed by a lion after stepping out of his tent. In Rajasthan’s Ranthambore, a man found tiger cubs in a pipe and started touching them and clicking selfies. If the tigress had returned at that time, the result could have been very dangerous.
Famous hunter and writer Jim Corbett once called the tiger a “large-hearted gentleman.” Tigers don’t attack for fun. They are shy animals and usually avoid humans. But when they feel scared or threatened, they might attack to protect themselves or their cubs.
This issue is not just about people or tigers—it’s about both. We must understand that tigers also have a right to live safely in their home, the forest. If you live near such areas, please follow forest rules and avoid going deep inside jungles. Only with mutual respect and care can humans and wild animals live peacefully.
