Context: Tiger Deaths in India 2023: According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), 168 tigers died in India in 2023, till December 15, 2023.
Tiger Deaths in India 2023
- Record Tiger Deaths in India 2023: The year 2023 witnessed the highest number of tiger deaths over the past 12 years.
- Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI): It reported an increase in tiger deaths in India to 201 in 2023, compared to 143 in 2022.
- Fifth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation (2022): According to it, although India witnessed a loss of approximately 200 tigers in 2023, the tiger population had shown an increase of 200 from 2018 to 2022.
- Status of Unique Tiger: The number of unique tigers photographed in 2022 was 3,080, while in 2018 there were 2,461 unique tigers captured.
- The number of tigers in India increased to 3,167 in 2022 from 2,967 in 2018.
- Average Number of Tigers: According to data reported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the average number of tigers in India is estimated at 3,682.
- Cheetah Mortalities: As per the Project Cheetah Annual Report 2023, out of the 20 cheetahs imported from Southern Africa and Namibia, six of them died since March this year.
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- The first mortality was that of a Namibian female cheetah named Sasha.
- The second death was of a South African male cheetah named Uday.
- The third casualty was a South African female cheetah named Daksha.
- The remaining three mortalities were cubs born within Kuno in Madhya Pradesh.
About National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):
- About: It is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- Powers and Functions: Approving the tiger conservation plan prepared by the State Government.
About Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI):
- About: Established in 1994, it provides support and information to government authorities to combat poaching and the escalating illegal wildlife trade.
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About Project Tiger
- About: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched on April 1, 1973 from Jim Corbett National Park.
- Objective: To promote the conservation of the tiger and ensure the preservation of their natural habitat as tigers are at the top of the food chain.
Must Read: 50th Anniversary Of Project Tiger
About Jim Corbett National Park:
- About: Established in 1936, it is India’s first national park named after the legendary naturalist and conservationist Jim Corbett.
- Location: Himalayas’ foothills, near the hill station of Nainital.
- Topography: Jim Corbett National Park is home to a diverse range of landscapes, from hills and riverine belts to marshy depressions and grasslands.
- Forest covers almost 73% of the park, while 10% of the area consists of grasslands.
- Geological Provinces: It is located in the geological provinces of the Shivalik and Outer Himalayas.
- Fauna: It is home to a large number of tigers, the highest among any Indian national park.
- Rivers: Palain, Mandal, Sonanadi, and Ramganga, flow through the tiger reserve.
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Protection Status of Tigers
- Schedule I: Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- Endangered: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
- Appendix I: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Protection Status of Cheetah
- Schedule I: Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- Critically Endangered: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
- Appendix I: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
To Read more about Aftermath of Cheetah Relocation, here.
News Source: Live Mint
December 26, 2023