• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Tigers are vital creatures of India's diverse wildlife and are a source of pride and admiration for many. India has a long history of coexistence with these magnificent big cats, and they hold a special place in the hearts of people, often symbolizing strength, power, and grace.

Over the years, their population had significantly declined due to numerous threats, including habitat loss, poaching, and human encroachment into their territories. To address the alarming decline in tiger numbers, the Indian government launched various ambitious projects and led to the establishment of numerous tiger reserves across the country, providing safe spaces for tigers to thrive and breed.

India, on the occasion of International Tiger Day, celebrated a remarkable milestone in its conservation efforts as the tiger population reached an impressive 3,682. This figure marks a significant annual rise of 6 per cent, according to the latest government data released. With this extraordinary achievement, India recorded a 23.5 per cent increase in tiger population between 2018 and 2022, taking the number of big cats in the wild to 3,682, more than the initially estimated 3,167 and accounting for 75 per cent of the tigers in the world.

In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released an interim estimation of 3,167 tigers in 'Status of Tigers 2022' report. India had 2,197 tigers in 2018, up from 1,411 tigers in 2006. Now, the Tiger census is held every four years in the country. “There are a maximum of 3925 tigers in the country. The average number is 3,682," as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Tiger Census Data

Around 80 per cent of the tigers (2,885) now reside in eight of the 18 tiger states, including Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Assam. Madhya Pradesh has the highest tiger population of 785, followed by 563 in Karnataka and 444 in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. 

On the individual score, Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand and Kaziranga National Park in Assam continue to be most densely populated tiger reserves, with 260 and 104 tiger, respectively, with Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh and Bandipur in Karnataka in close pursuit. However, the data shows, states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have recorded a dip in the number of majestic cats in the last few years.

According to data analysis done by the Wildlife Institute of India, the upper limit of the tiger population is estimated to be 3925 and the average number is 3682 tigers, reflecting a commendable annual growth rate of 6.1 per cent per annum, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh has lost around 70 per cent of its tigers—from 29 in 2018 to just 9 in 2022. The number of tigers dropped from 28 to 20 in Odisha, from 5 to 1 in Jharkhand, from 19 to 17 in Chhattisgarh and from 26 to 21 in Telangana. The count dipped from 6 in 2006 to nil in 2022 in Mizoram and from 10 in 2006 to just 2 in 2022 in northern West Bengal. Nagaland also does not have any tigers now, according to the data.

The number of tigers “within the tiger reserve” is highest in Corbett (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).

Eighteen tiger reserves have less than 10 big cats left. These are Ranipur in Uttar Pradesh; Achanakmar, Indravati and Udanti Sitanadi in Chhattisgarh; Palamau in Jharkhand; Bor and Sahyadri in Maharashtra; Satkosia in Odisha; Mukundara and Ramgarh Vishdhari in Rajasthan; Kawal in Telangana; Kalakad Mundanthurai in Tamil Nadu; Nameri in Assam; Dampa in Mizoram; Pakke, Kamlang and Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh and Buxa in West Bengal.

Regional Analysis: Hopeful Signs and Concerns

The report presented a mixed picture of tiger populations across different landscapes. The forest divisions of the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains landscape saw a significant surge, with 804 unique tigers photographed, surpassing the estimated 646 population in 2018. This increase was attributed to photographic evidence revealing tigers in new areas of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, offering hope for range expansion.

In contrast, the Western Ghats witnessed a decrease in tiger occupancy due to increasing human footprint and development. The Northeastern Hills and Brahmaputra Plains landscape experienced a slight decline in tiger numbers, warranting intensified conservation efforts to protect the small yet genetically unique tiger population.

Tigers continue to be a flagship species for conservation in India, representing the country's commitment to protecting its natural heritage and biodiversity. As India continues its journey to protect these majestic creatures, the nation's philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" remains at the heart of its conservation initiatives - safeguarding not only tigers but the future of all life forms on Earth.