According to the official database of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the death toll of wild tigers in the country touched 97 in 2016. It is the highest among the annual death figures of the big cat during the past five years.
In 2015, the figure of wild tiger deaths was 70, in 2014 it was 66, in 2013 it was 63 and in 2012 it was 72.
The wild tiger death toll in the country in 2016 began with three deaths reported on January 2 from three States — Assam, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
The last one was reported on December 28 at Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh.
Thirty wild tiger deaths were reported from Madhya Pradesh alone in 2016.