International Tiger Day: How Project Tiger saved the big cat in India

Context:

July 29 is celebrated worldwide as International Tiger Day in a bid to raise awareness on various issues surrounding tiger conservation.

About the International Tiger Day:

• International Tiger Day was established in 2010 during the Tiger Summit held in St. Petersburg, Russia. 
• The summit brought together 13 tiger range countries to create the global goal, Tx2, aiming to double the number of wild tigers by the year 2022.

Success of India in Tiger conservation:

• According to the World Wildlife Fund, while some Southeast Asian countries faced challenges in controlling population decline, India achieved notable success in tiger conservation.
• The credit for India’s achievements can largely be attributed to the success of Project Tiger, which recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.

What is Project Tiger?

• Project Tiger was launched by the Central government on April 1, 1973, in a bid to promote the conservation of the tiger. 
• Project Tiger didn’t just focus on the conservation of the big cats. It also ensured the preservation of their natural habitat as tigers are at the top of the food chain.
• Initially implemented in nine tiger reserves across different states, including Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, the program covered an area of over 14,000 sq km. 

Fifty years of Project Tiger:

• There are 54 tiger reserves across India. 
• The current population of tigers in the country stands at 3,167 as opposed to 1,411 in 2006, 1,706 in 2010 and 2,226 in 2014. 
• The 5th cycle of India’s Tiger Census, conducted this year to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger show a 6.74 percent increase in tiger numbers since 2018, with the count reaching 3,167 from the previous 2,967.
• Currently, India is home to almost 75 percent of the global tiger population in the wild.

Indian Efforts Towards Tiger Conservation:

• In 1972, the Wildlife Protection Act was enacted to address the issue of hunting and poaching of not only tigers but also other animals and birds. 
• Project Tiger was launched creating a network of reserves dedicated to tiger conservation.
• To further tackle poaching and protect the tiger population, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established. 
  • The NTCA was granted more authority to combat poaching and preserve tigers, which included initiatives like setting up the Tiger Protection Force and funding the relocation of villages from protected areas.
• Subsequently, the Indian government conducted its own tiger census, revealing that there were only 1,800 tigers remaining in the country.
• Nature tourism is being cited as one of the reasons for the roaring success in increasing the number of tigers in India.

News Source: Indian Express