Conservation of Tigers in India - Successfully Doubled Tiger Population in India
This article talks about conservation of tigers in India along with trends of tiger population in world and India. It discusses role of tigers in maintaining ecological sustainability and global & national efforts for conservation of tigers in India. It also highlights the findings of All India tiger estimation report 2018.
What is the need for Conservation of Tigers?
Cultural Significance of Tiger
Global Tiger Population Trends
Abundance of Tigers
Tiger Population Trends in India
Global Target for Tiger Population
National Efforts for Conservation of Tigers
All India Tiger Estimation Report
Findings of All India Tiger estimation report 2018
Other Efforts of India for Conservation of Tigers
What is the need for Conservation of Tigers?
Health of an ecosystem is crucial for the survival of living beings. These living organisms include not only humans but other animals, birds, plants also. One of the critically important ecosystems is forest. Forests are rich in natural resources from which we can obtain wood, tendu leaves, mahua flowers, grasses, honey, lac, waxes etc. Similarly, forests are important for animals as their habitat and source of food. The top position of ecological pyramid of a forest is occupied by tigers. They keep a check on the population of other animals in the forest which ultimately preserves the forest. Thus, the conservation of tigers is essential for good health of forests.
Cultural Significance of Tiger
Tiger is culturally significant in different countries. It is important in China to such an extent that tiger day is celebrated across the country. India, Bangladesh and Malaysia have tiger as their national animal. Thus, conservation of tigers is culturally important in tiger range countries.
Global Tiger Population Trends
In beginning of 20th century, global tiger population was more than 0.1 million out of which 40,000 were in India. Their global population declined to approximately 3274 only in 2013 and 3200 in 2014 indicating fall of 97% in their number over a period of 100 years. The year 2015 witnessed a little surge in their population and which was 3890. The rapid decline of tiger population is attributed to sprawling human settlements, indiscriminate hunting of tigers and their habitat fragmentation.
Abundance of Tigers
At present, tigers are found in thirteen countries which are India, China, Russia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh. These countries are collectively called as tiger range countries. Among tiger range countries, 80% global population of tigers is present in India. Thus, world is looking towards India for its approach and efforts in conservation of tigers.
Tiger Population Trends in India
As mentioned earlier, in the beginning of 20th century tiger population in India was nearly 40,000. By 1970s, their number declined to just 1900 which was a matter of concern. Their number has now increased to nearly 3000 by efforts of government.
Global Target for Tiger Population
Representatives of all thirteen tiger range countries met in a “Tiger Summit” conducted at St. Petersberg in Russia in 2010 and they set a target to double the population of tigers by 2022 in the world. “Global Tiger Forum” is a set up of tiger range countries to discuss and deal with all the issues pertaining tiger safety and conservation.
National Efforts for Conservation of Tigers
India has initiated an effort namely Project Tiger in 1973 with the objective of conservation of tigers in their natural habitat and prevent their poaching. This project was started on the recommendation of tiger task force. It was initially implemented in 9 tiger reserves which have now increased to 50 tiger reserves. The important components of this project are monitoring, improving connectivity through tiger corridors and conservation at landscape level. For monitoring, census is an important tool. The irregularities in management and poaching in Sariska and Namdapha raised questions on success of the Project Tiger. Then, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established in 2005 followed by establishment of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in 2007 and Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF).
A tiger census is conducted in India every four years by NTCA. The last four such surveys were conducted in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. The populations of tigers found in these reports were as the following:
All India Tiger Estimation Report
The latest tiger census report was released on 29th July, 2019 which is celebrated as Global Tiger Day since 2010 Global Tiger Summit. This survey is the largest wildlife survey of world. The tiger census was conducted on more than 3 lakh 81 thousand 400 km of forests in 20 states on the basis of 28 parameters. The approach of conducting this tiger census was landscape based rather than specific area based.
Findings of All India Tiger estimation report 2018:
- The report reveals that tiger population in India has increased by 33% in last four years and that is 741 in absolute number.
- In last 12 years, tiger population in India has increased more than twice. This proves that India is the safest place for tigers as their habitat.
- The number of protected areas in country has increased from 692 in 2014 to 860 in 2018.
- The number of community reserves has increased from 43 in 2014 to more than 100 in 2018.
- Now, India has become home for more than 3/4th of global tiger population.
- In the report, the highest tiger population is present in following five states:
The above five states comprise 60.8% population of tigers in the country.
The findings of All India Tiger Estimation Report indicate that India has achieved the target of “Tiger summit, 2010” four years earlier than its set timeline. This achievement is the outcome of protection measures as well as habitat management. On this achievement, Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi highlighted the role of tiger conservation in ecologically sustainable tourism.
Other Efforts of India for Conservation of Tigers
The government is emphasizing on giving help to people living in nearby areas of tiger reserves in the form of rehabilitation package, incentives of Rs 10 Lakh to settle at different place and also in form of compensation if any of the family member of a nearby resident gets killed by tiger or other wild animals. This compensation prevents any attack by local people on animal in retaliation. In addition, government is using hard hands against illegal poaching and giving adequate directions to state government. At international level, government of India has concluded bilateral agreements with China and Bangladesh for tiger conservation and with Nepal to combat illegal trafficking of tigers. At the same time, government is seeking help from Russia for conservation of tigers and leopards.
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