New Delhi, August 1, 2023: India is celebrating the success of Project Tiger as the detailed report of the All India Tiger Estimation 2022 is released. The report showcases commendable progress in tiger conservation efforts over the past five decades, marking a significant increase in the tiger population and highlighting areas that require urgent conservation attention.
In 1973, the Government of India launched Project Tiger, a comprehensive conservation initiative aimed at safeguarding the nation’s tiger population and preserving biodiversity. With nine tiger reserves spanning 18,278 km2 initially, the project has now expanded to 53 reserves covering 75,796 km2, effectively encompassing 2.3% of India’s total land area.
India currently boasts almost 75% of the world’s wild tiger population, a testament to the success of Project Tiger in protecting this majestic species. The first phase of tiger conservation in the 1970s focused on enacting the Wildlife Protection Act and establishing protected areas. However, poaching took a toll on tiger numbers in the 1980s. In response, the second phase, initiated in 2005, adopted a landscape-level approach, involving communities, implementing strict law enforcement, and using modern technology for scientific monitoring, which proved highly effective in tiger conservation.
The recently released detailed report reveals a remarkable increase in the tiger population, with unique tiger sightings rising from 2461 in 2018 to 3080 in 2022. The Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had previously declared a minimum tiger population of 3167 from camera-trapped areas during the celebration of 50 years of Project Tiger at Mysuru on April 9, 2022. Now, further analysis by the Wildlife Institute of India indicates an upper limit of 3925 and an average of 3682 tigers, reflecting an impressive annual growth rate of 6.1% per annum.
Certain regions, such as Central India and the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains, witnessed notable increases in tiger population, particularly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra. However, localized declines in tiger numbers were observed in the Western Ghats, necessitating targeted monitoring and conservation efforts.
The report highlights areas of concern, with some states reporting disquieting trends and small tiger populations. States like Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh face challenges in tiger conservation.
Among the tiger reserves, Madhya Pradesh leads with the largest tiger population of 785, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444). Notably, Corbett Tiger Reserve boasts the highest tiger abundance (260), followed by Bandipur (150), Nagarhole (141), Bandhavgarh (135), Dudhwa (135), Mudumalai (114), Kanha (105), Kaziranga (104), Sundarbans (100), Tadoba (97), Sathyamangalam (85), and Pench-MP (77).
The report emphasizes that approximately 35% of the tiger reserves urgently require enhanced protection measures, habitat restoration, ungulate augmentation, and subsequent tiger reintroduction.
To ensure the continued success of Project Tiger, the report calls for eco-friendly development, minimized mining impacts, and rehabilitation of mining sites. It stresses the importance of strengthening protected area management, intensifying anti-poaching measures, employing scientific thinking and technology-driven data collection, and addressing human-wildlife conflict.
While India’s Project Tiger has made remarkable progress in tiger conservation, poaching remains a threat. Continued efforts to protect tiger habitats and corridors are crucial to secure the future of India’s tigers and preserve their ecosystems for generations to come. The nation reaffirms its commitment to the conservation of this iconic species and its biodiversity.
Project Tiger has been successful in increasing the number of tigers in the wild, but there are still challenges to overcome. Poaching remains a threat, and habitat loss is also a big concern. This is high time that instead of being complacent, the initiative must plan and execute the second phase of the project considering the challenges of rapid urbanization, and infrastructure development balancing it with the need for larger space for wildlife and nature.
