Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Wednesday said the state's tiger count has surged to 444 this year from the 101 recorded in 2000. While speaking on the floor of the House during the Maharashtra Budget Session 2025, the minister also informed that the government has approved funds worth Rs 200 crore for solar fencing of villages near tiger habitats, news agency PTI reported.

The ministet was replying to a debate in the state assembly on the issue of man-animal conflicts in a wildlife sanctuary near Bhandara.