The state has been among the top five states in tiger deaths in the country since 2007, data by Tigernet, an official database of tiger mortality, maintained by the National Tiger Conservation Authority revealed on Thursday. The number of tigers poached in the state is also at a five-year high. Maharashtra’s population of tigers increased from 103 in 2006 to 169 in 2010.

Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh share the second spot when it comes to tiger deaths in the country this year.

MKS Pasha, associate director for Traffic India, a wildlife trade monitoring network and official custodian of Tigernet, said the high number of tiger deaths in the state is a cause of concern. “In the past couple of years, the density of tigers has grown in Maharashtra and poachers are targeting these areas. The crime happens in forest areas, but criminals live outside those regions. Only an alliance with other enforcement organisations will help curtail the problem. It is beyond the forest department’s capacity,” he said.

Nitin Desai, Central India director for the Wildlife Protection Society of India, fears incidents of poaching will increase further. “The increasing demand is making poachers take unusual steps this year,” he said. A senior forest department officer said unlike other states, almost all cases in Maharashtra are being detected properly. “This points to the improved quality of patrolling,” he said.

The state administration has declared several measures to protect tigers in Maharashtra. These include bringing the buffer zone of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve under the unified command of the field director, filling up all the 53 posts of forest guards in the reserve, adding five more gypsies for patrolling and installing five tankers to increase water supply.

During the book launch, CM Prithviraj Chavan said: “The book will help in protecting the environment. It will also increase awareness about wildlife and the need to conserve it.”