Maharashtra Signs 11 MoUs on International Tiger Day to Boost Conservation and Wildlife Tourism

Maharashtra signed 11 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on International Tiger Day to strengthen tiger conservation, expand wildlife tourism, promote scientific research, and improve livelihoods in communities living around tiger reserves.

Three key MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the International Tiger Conference at IIM Nagpur, while a total of 11 agreements were signed between government agencies, conservation organisations, research institutions, and private companies.

Among the major partnerships, the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Conservation Foundation (TATRCF) signed an MoU with Airbnb India Pvt Ltd to promote community based tourism around the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve by providing digital training and online support to local homestay owners. The Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) partnered with the Tata Motors Foundation to implement the Integrated Village Development Programme (IVDP 2.0) in buffer villages. Another agreement involving the Aaroha Group, Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India Limited, and the Maharashtra Forest Department will promote eco tourism and destination development, while TATRCF and the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, will collaborate on wildlife conservation, biodiversity research, ecosystem restoration, and climate change studies.

Fadnavis said Maharashtra has developed India's first state built AI based tiger early warning system, which detects tiger movement and alerts nearby villagers to reduce human wildlife conflict. The technology will be expanded to nearly 1,000 villages under a broader conflict mitigation programme.

The conference also discussed the proposed Nagpur Tiger Declaration 2026, a roadmap for future conservation focused on community participation, CSR investment, sustainable tourism, and human tiger coexistence. India is home to 3,682 wild tigers, nearly 70 per cent of the global population, while Maharashtra has 444 tigers and expects further growth through continued conservation efforts.

Officials have not yet released details of the remaining seven MoUs signed during the event.