India continues to be home to the world’s largest wild tiger population, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of all wild tigers globally. However, as the country marks World Tiger Day on July 29, emerging threats including disease, habitat fragmentation and rising mortality outside protected areas are posing fresh challenges to tiger conservation.

According to data released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), 114 tiger deaths were recorded across the country between January 1 and July 26, 2026, underlining the pressures facing the species despite decades of conservation success.

More Tiger Deaths Reported Outside Reserves

NTCA data shows that a significant number of tiger deaths this year occurred outside notified tiger reserves, where big cats frequently move through human-dominated landscapes in search of territory and prey.

Fatalities have been reported from states including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with many occurring in territorial forests, revenue lands and villages beyond reserve boundaries.

Wildlife experts say India’s growing tiger population has expanded faster than the availability of suitable habitat. As forests become increasingly fragmented by roads, railways, mining activities and expanding settlements, dispersing tigers are forced to move through agricultural fields and inhabited areas.

This increases the risk of accidents, electrocution, poaching, retaliatory killings and territorial conflicts with other tigers.

Canine Distemper Virus Emerges as New Threat

A major concern this year has been the detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in wild tigers.

The virus, commonly found in domestic dogs, affects the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems of carnivores and has previously contributed to serious declines in populations of African lions and Amur tigers.

Wildlife experts have warned that widespread transmission of the disease could become one of the most significant biological threats to India’s tiger population.

In response, veterinary teams and forest departments have intensified disease surveillance in several tiger habitats, while scientists have called for closer monitoring of domestic dog populations living around protected forests to reduce the risk of transmission.

Habitat Fragmentation Continues to Affect Tigers

Habitat loss and fragmentation remain among the biggest long-term challenges for tiger conservation.

Although India has an extensive network of protected reserves, tigers rely on forest corridors connecting these landscapes to disperse and maintain healthy populations.

Conservationists warn that infrastructure projects and changing land use continue to shrink these corridors, isolating tiger populations and increasing encounters between wildlife and people.

NTCA records also show multiple deaths of cubs and sub-adult tigers this year, highlighting the vulnerability of younger animals during dispersal. Authorities have also reported several wildlife crime seizures, indicating that illegal trade in tiger parts remains an ongoing concern.

Conservation Beyond Protected Areas

Conservationists say India’s tiger recovery remains one of the world’s most significant wildlife success stories, but sustaining that progress will require efforts beyond the boundaries of protected reserves.

They emphasise the need to strengthen wildlife corridors, reduce habitat fragmentation, prevent disease transmission, improve human-wildlife conflict mitigation and expand conservation measures across the broader landscape to secure the future of India’s tiger population.

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