Project Tiger

India is home to 75% of the world's tigers. Efforts like Project Tiger have established 55 tiger reserves across the country. The Tiger is India’s national animal. They are both flagship and umbrella species as protecting them leads to conservation of forest ecosystems as a whole. However, widespread hunting, poaching, climate change, developmental pressures and fragmentation of their ecosystems pose a threat. Tigers are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, in CITES Appendix I, and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Key protection initiatives include Project Tiger, the Wildlife Protection Act banning tiger trade, Tiger Census, the National Tiger Conservation Authority overseeing efforts, and international collaborations like International Big Cat Alliance and Global Tiger Forum to combat wildlife trade and protect habitats.

In the early 1900s, India's tigers were in trouble due to widespread hunting and displacement due to rapid deforestation under British colonial rule. By the 1970s, their numbers had dropped significantly. The Indian government consulted conservationists and undertook efforts to revive the tiger population. The tiger became a symbol of India's fight to save the environment.

India is home to 75% of world’s tigers. This is a testament to India’s fight to protect the tiger and its ecosystem. This started in 1973 with "Project Tiger" under which, today, 55 tiger reserves have been set up across 18 states and union territories to cover 2.3% of India’s land.

Tigers are crucial for the health of ecosystems. They are apex predators in an area so by saving them, we ensure the well-being of entire ecosystems along with the communities that depend on them.

• Regulate Ecosystem: As apex predators, they keep prey populations in check, ensuring a balanced environment.
• Boost Tourism: They also bring in tourism, boosting local economies and communities.
• Cultural & Scientific Importance: Tigers hold deep cultural significance in various religions and act as scientific indicators of ecosystem health.
• Flagship Species: Tigers' iconic status capture people's hearts, raising awareness and generating funding for conservation projects. They act as ambassadors for their habitats and the diverse species they share.
• Umbrella Species:
  • Large range and habitat needs: Tigers require extensive territories with healthy prey populations. Protecting these areas automatically protects countless other species that share the same habitat.
  • Indicator of ecosystem health: As apex predators, tiger populations thrive in healthy ecosystems. Their decline indicates broader environmental issues, urging conservation action.

• IUCN Red List: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

• Ex-Situ Conservation: This is saving species outside their natural homes, like in zoos.
• In-situ Conservation: This is saving species in their natural homes, like in sanctuaries and parks. Project Tiger mainly uses in situ methods.
• Counting Tigers: Knowing how many tigers there are helps to see if protection efforts work. Old methods like Pugmark have been replaced by camera traps and DNA tests. The Tiger Census of India uses a double sampling method where both groundbased and image surveys through camera traps are done.
• Core Buffer Strategy: Where core areas are kept free from human intervention and surrounding buffer areas have limited village settlements where man and animal co-exist.

• Project Tiger, 1973: Run by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.
  • Goals: Create Tiger Reserves as a safe environment for tigers to live and breed. It aimed to keep healthy tiger populations in their natural habitats.
  • Management: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) manages this project, overseeing tiger reserves in India.
  • Growth of Reserves: Starting with 9, the project now includes 55 reserves in various states, each with its own ecosystem.
  • The core area/ critical tiger habitat is a legally protected park or sanctuary where human settlement is prohibited.
  • The buffer area around it is a mix of forest and other land, used in different ways. In the buffer zones restricted people can live.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:
  • Included in Schedule I, banning its hunting and trade.
  • National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): A statutory body setup in 2005 to oversee tiger conservation efforts across India.
• The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006: This law gives rights to people living in forests and is important in getting them to help in protecting wildlife.
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII) started in 1982 in Dehradun, is important for wildlife study and management. It provides training, courses, and advice.
• Tiger Protection Force: Started in 2008, this force works to keep tigers safe in reserves and fight against poaching.
• International Agreements:
  • Bilateral: India has agreements with Nepal, China, Bangladesh, and Russia. They focus on illegal wildlife trade and saving habitats.
  • International Big Cat Alliance: 97 countries are working to conserve 7 big cats of Earth which are: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma. It will undertake advocacy, collaborations, capacity building, financing, tourism, information dissemination and awareness generation.
• MSTrIPES: Started in 2010, this app helps to track and manage tigers in reserves.
• Tiger Census, 2022: by NTCA & WII every 4 years. In 2022, India’s tiger population increased to 3167. However, the rate of population growth has slowed down since 2018. Areas which saw rapid increase were Shivalik Hills, Nilgiri Hills & Gangetic Plains. However, some areas saw decline also like Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana & Western Ghats. The priority is to preserve the genetically unique (black tigers) Simlipal population, eco-friendly development and trans-boundary efforts for long term sustained success.
• Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE): By NTCA & WII to evaluate national tiger conservation efforts. India leads the world with 5 completed cycles of Tiger Reserve MEE. 51 reserves were evaluated in 2022, categorized as Excellent, Very Good, Good, or Fair.

These sites are crucial for conservation and also boosting tourism.

• Jim Corbett National Park: A Leader in Conservation: First Tiger Reserve: Opened in 1936.
• Largest: Nagarjunsagar Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is India's biggest tiger reserve.
• Smallest: Bor Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra by total size. However, the Orang Tiger reserve in Assam has the smallest core area.
• Tiger Reserves without Tigers: As per the 2022 census, Kawal tiger reserve (Telangana), Sri Venkateswara National park (Andhra Pradesh), Satkosia tiger reserve (Odisha) and Sahyadri Tiger reserve (Maharashtra).
• State with Most Tiger Reserves: Madhya Pradesh has Sanjay-Dubri, Satpura, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench, Kanha and it also has the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. It also has the most tigers in the country at over 750.
• Best Managed Reserves: The MEE rankings rated the following i) Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala ii) Satpura in Madhya Pradesh and iii) Bandipur in Karnataka.
• Worst Performing Reserves: The MEE rated the following as worst performing i) Dampa in Mizoram ii) Indravati in Chhattisgarh iii) Nameri in Assam.
• Latest: New reserves were added in the last three years
  • 2021: Srivilliputhur – Megamalai in Tamil Nadu
  • 2022: Ramgarh Vishdhari in Rajasthan And Ranipur Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh
  • 2023: Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh & Dholpur – Karauli Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.

• Global Tiger Day: On July 29 each year to spread awareness about the need to protect tigers and their importance in our natural world.
• Global Tiger Forum: Was started in 1994 in New Delhi to bring together worldwide efforts for tiger conservation.
• The St. Petersburg Tiger Summit 2010: At this meeting, leaders from countries where tigers live, including India, pledged to double wild tiger numbers by 2022 (called the the TX2 Goal)
• Global Tiger Initiative (GTI): Started in 2008 by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It brought together governments, international agencies, and conservation groups to prevent the extinction of wild tigers. In 2013, it expanded to include protecting Snow Leopards. Created a comprehensive plan called the Global Tiger Recovery Program to increase wild tiger populations.
• Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS Rules): Started in 2013, it is an accreditation tool created by tiger area countries to certify good practices in conservation areas. 14 tiger reserves in India got CA|TS approval, showing they meet high standards in saving tigers.

• Man-Animal Conflict: With more tigers, managing conflicts between humans and animals is now very important. Tigers prey on livestock and even attack people.
• Habitat fragmentation due to developmental activities and climate change e.g. Panna Tiger reserve will be submerged due to the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking project.
• Danger from Illegal Hunting: Even with laws, illegal hunting for tiger parts is still a big problem.
• Encroachment due to Development: Fast building and cities growing are causing tigers to lose their homes
• Climate change: Rising temperatures and extreme weather events can alter prey availability and impact tiger habitats. E.g. Sunderban mangrooves are threatened due to rising sea levels and cyclones.
• Tiger Holding Capacity: With increasing tiger population, the growth has now slowed down due to holding capacity of habitats.
• Unequal Distribution of Tigers: In some areas like Nilgiris & Satpuras the tiger population has increased while in others like Western Ghats it is declining and in Jharkhand issues of poaching are ripe.
• Funding: Tiger conservation funding in 2022-23 has decreased from 2018-19 by the Central Government.

We not only have to consolidate and maintain the growth so far, but also keep the points mentioned below in mind for sustained growth in tiger conservation efforts: -

• Habitat Management: Using Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) which is a remote sensing technology for precise mapping and management of tiger reserves.
• Monitoring & Research: Employ camera traps, satellite tracking, and genetic analysis to monitor populations, understand movement patterns, and identify crucial corridors.
• Inclusive Conservation: Involve local communities in conservation plans, share benefits like eco-tourism revenues, and foster a sense of ownership. Provide alternative income opportunities to reduce dependence on forest resources.
• Minimize Habitat Loss: Ensure sustainable infrastructure development that minimizes habitat disturbance and fragmentation.
• Corridor Protection: Restore and safeguard tiger corridors to facilitate movement and prevent habitat fragmentation.
• Responsible Tourism: Promote responsible tourism practices that minimize disturbance to tigers and their habitats.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: Develop evidence-based strategies to address human-wildlife conflicts

Government’s actions for conservation have borne fruit with India reaching its Tx2 goal before the deadline in 2022 by doubling its tiger population. Regular tiger censuses are undertaken every four years with their numbers increasing from 1706 in 2010 to 3167 in 2022. Government amended laws like the Wildlife (Protection) Act and made anti poaching laws stronger for saving tigers. Various government plans, like Project Tiger, give money and help to states for tiger protection.

India's role as a global leader in wildlife conservation is not just about protecting its own biodiversity but extends to sharing knowledge and best practices with other nations. Collaborative efforts, exemplified by international initiatives like the Global Tiger Forum and the Global Tiger Initiative, underscore the interconnectedness of global ecosystems and the collective responsibility to safeguard them. Lastly, janbhaagidari and involvement of local communities and traditional practices is a must to ensure harmony and sustainable development.