India's Project Tiger Marks 50 Years of Conservation

• 01 Aug 2023

On 29^th July, 2023, on the occasion of the Global Tiger Day, the Government released a detailed report, revealing India's tiger population estimate of 3,925, with an annual growth rate of 6.1%.

Government of India's Project Tiger, launched in 1973, has achieved remarkable success in tiger conservation. The project has resulted in a significant increase in the country's tiger population over the past five decades.

Key Points:

• Project Tiger's Remarkable Progress: Over the last 50 years, Project Tiger has expanded to cover 53 reserves across 75,796 km2, effectively safeguarding 2.3% of India's total land area and hosting nearly 75% of the world's wild tiger population.
• Two Phases of Conservation Efforts: The project's success can be attributed to the two phases of conservation efforts – the first phase focused on enacting the Wildlife Protection Act and establishing protected areas, while the second phase, initiated in 2005, adopted a landscape-level approach, community involvement, strict law enforcement, and advanced technology for scientific monitoring.
• Increase in Tiger Population: Thanks to the landscape-level approach and conservation efforts, the tiger population has witnessed a commendable annual growth rate of 6.1%.
• Estimates: The latest estimates put the tiger population of the country between 3167 to 3925, with an average of 3682 tigers.
• Regional Variations in Population Growth: While certain regions, like Central India and the Shivalik Hills, have experienced notable increases in tiger populations, the Western Ghats witnessed localized declines, requiring targeted conservation measures.
• Challenges and Focus Areas: Some states, such as Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh, reported small tiger populations, demanding special attention.
• Preserving Ecological Integrity: To secure the future of India's tigers and their ecosystems, there is a need for eco-friendly development, minimizing mining impacts, fortifying protected area management, intensifying anti-poaching measures, and addressing human-wildlife conflict.
• Continued Threat of Poaching: While Project Tiger has made tremendous progress, poaching remains a persistent threat to tiger conservation, necessitating ongoing efforts to protect tiger habitats and corridors.