Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR): Landscape-Based Tiger Conservation in India

29 Jul 2026

GS III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Context: India has achieved remarkable success in tiger conservation, with the tiger population increasing to 3,682 (2022). However, 35–40% of tigers now inhabit areas outside Tiger Reserves, necessitating a new conservation strategy that balances wildlife protection with human safety.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched the Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR) initiative to establish a scientifically grounded, landscape-based framework for conserving tigers beyond protected areas while reducing human–tiger conflict.

India’s Tiger Conservation Success

Project Tiger (1973): Launched to reverse the decline in tiger populations through habitat protection and scientific management.
Expansion of Protected Areas: The number of Tiger Reserves has increased from 9 (18,278 sq km) in 1973 to 58 (84,488 sq km), covering about 2.6% of India’s land area.
Tiger Population Growth: The tiger population has increased from 1,411 (2006) to 3,682 (2022), making India home to over 70% of the world’s wild tigers.
New Conservation Challenge: A growing number of tigers are dispersing beyond protected areas into human-dominated landscapes.

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Why are Tigers Moving Outside Reserves?

Habitat Saturation: Increasing tiger populations have led to territorial expansion beyond reserve boundaries.
Need for Larger Home Ranges: Tigers naturally disperse in search of territory, prey, and mates.
Connected Forest Corridors: Improved habitat connectivity has enabled movement across reserve and non-reserve forests.
Shared Landscapes: Tigers increasingly inhabit reserve forests, agricultural fields, and village fringes, increasing interactions with humans.

Challenges of Tigers Outside Protected Areas

Human–Tiger Conflict: Increased incidents of human fatalities, livestock depredation, and accidental encounters.
Public Safety Concerns: Growing fear among local communities often leads to resistance against wildlife conservation.
Operational Burden: Forest departments face complex rescue operations and emergency response requirements.
Development Pressures: Expansion of roads, settlements, and infrastructure fragments habitats and increases conflict.
Compensation Delays: Slow compensation for livestock or human losses reduces community support for conservation.

About the Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR) Initiative

Objective: Establish a science-based, landscape-level approach for conserving tigers outside protected areas while safeguarding human lives and livelihoods.
Approach: Shifts from reactive conflict management to proactive prevention through technology, preparedness, and community participation.
Pilot Implementation: Introduced initially in 40 forest divisions across 9 States based on the All India Tiger Estimation (2022).
Participating States: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Assam.

Key Components of TOTR

Conflict Mitigation: Deployment of Rapid Response Teams, improved communication systems, and enhanced rescue infrastructure.
Technology-Based Monitoring: Use of camera traps, drones, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and GPS-enabled monitoring for surveillance and early warning.
Community Participation: Greater involvement of local communities through awareness programmes and partnership-based conservation.
Timely Compensation: Simplification and faster settlement of compensation claims to strengthen public trust.
Capacity Building: Training of forest personnel, veterinarians, and rescue teams for effective conflict management.

Significance of the Initiative

Landscape-Level Conservation: Recognises that tiger conservation must extend beyond protected areas into broader ecological landscapes.
Promotes Human–Wildlife Coexistence: Encourages sustainable coexistence instead of conflict-driven responses.
Strengthens Wildlife Governance: Integrates technology, institutions, and community participation into conservation planning.
Supports Biodiversity Conservation: Protects ecological corridors essential for long-term genetic diversity and ecosystem resilience.
Global Conservation Leadership: Reinforces India’s position as a global leader in large carnivore conservation.

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Challenges Ahead

Maintaining Community Support: Conservation success depends on sustained cooperation from local communities.
Institutional Capacity: Effective implementation requires adequate manpower, funding, and trained personnel.
Balancing Development and Conservation: Infrastructure expansion must be aligned with ecological considerations.
Technology Adoption: Surveillance tools require continuous investment, maintenance, and skilled operation.
Inter-Agency Coordination: Coordination among forest departments, district administrations, and local bodies remains essential.

Way Forward

Strengthen Landscape-Based Planning: Integrate tiger conservation into regional land-use and development planning.
Improve Compensation Systems: Ensure transparent, simplified, and time-bound compensation mechanisms.
Enhance Community-Based Conservation: Promote local stewardship through awareness, livelihood support, and participatory management.
Invest in Modern Conservation Technologies: Expand AI-enabled monitoring, drones, and early warning systems.
Build Institutional Capacity: Strengthen forest governance through specialised training and adequate financial support.

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Conclusion

The TOTR initiative marks a significant shift from protected-area-centric conservation to landscape-based coexistence, recognising that the future of tiger conservation depends on balancing ecological protection with human well-being through science-based management, strong institutions, and active community participation.