Project Tiger in India

India is the world’s largest home for Royal Bengal Tigers. India hosts more than 70% of total Tigers in the world. It is no surprise then that we are also prime targets for tiger hunters and poachers. To overcome this threat Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in India.

Since the population of these beautiful big cats is spread across many states in India, the responsibility of protecting those falls upon the government. Project Tiger is the government’s response to this call of duty.

How Project Tiger was started in India

Back in the early 19th century, There were about 40,000 Royal Bengal Tigers in India. Within seven decades, Royal Bengal Tiger’s population dwindled to a mere 1800.

It was not only shocking and alarming but also a reflection of the neglect that was being heaped upon the National Animal of India. It was an undeniable failure.

In light of the scathing criticism brought on by these stats, the government looked into the issue and initiated steps to revive the tiger population in the country.

Project Tiger in India was launched on 1st April 1973 as a major wildlife conservation project in India. It was launched from the Jim Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand.

The initiative is funded by the Union Govt. of India and administrated under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is the immediate supervising agency.

Project Tiger India

Img Credit@Mohammed Shujath

DOWNLOAD the complete “list of Tiger Reserves” in India PDF format with the core area, buffer area and total area updated till 2019.

Aim to start Tiger Project in India

The stated aims of Project Tiger were

To identify factors causing a reduction in tiger habitats and mitigate them through suitable management practices. The damages already done to the habitat were to be corrected so that the natural ecosystem can be recovered to the extent possible.

in tiger habitats and mitigate them through suitable management practices. The damages already done to the habitat were to be corrected so that the natural ecosystem can be recovered to the extent possible. To maintain a viable tiger population for their economic, ecological, cultural and aesthetic significance

When was Project Tiger launched?

Project Tiger was launched in the year 1973. It was one of the most important conservation efforts initiated to protect Tigers in India. It was the first of its kind of Project in India to maintain the population of Tigers in India and to protect them from Poaching and other threats.

History

Initially, When Project Tiger was rolled out in 1973, nine tiger reserves encompassing an area of 9,115 sq km were identified to be brought under special protection. By the late 1980s the number of protected tiger reserves increases from 9 to 15. And a total area of 24,700 sq. km of forested land was reserved for the Tigers.

By 1984, the number of tigers present in Project Tiger reserves reached above 1100. In the next few years, more and more tiger habitats were added to the Project Tiger. By the year 1997 there were 23 tiger reserves stretched over an area of 33,000 sq. km were being protected under Project Tiger in India.

However, even as the range of protected areas continued to expand, the number of tigers didn’t increase considerably.

Tiger Census

The Tiger Census of 2006 projected 1,411 tigers were left in the country. Since the census methods used were technology-based, the results were more believable.

The results estimated a total tiger population at 1,411 individuals ranging from 1,165 to 1,657 adult and sub-adult tigers. 2006 Census created a second round of stir and debate around tiger conservation. Protection efforts have increased manifold since then.

Owing to the renewed sincerity to Tiger conservation, the number of tigers consistently increased in the next decade. 2014 Tiger Census-estimated 2,226 Bengal tigers in India.

Karnataka was the state with the highest tiger population. The recorded tiger count in the state was 408 as per the 2014 tiger census.

But, in 2018 Tiger Census, The crown of the Tiger State of India is been taken away by Madhya Pradesh with 526 Tigers, whereas Karnataka and Uttrakhand were second and third in position with 524 and 442 Tigers respectively.

The total Tiger Population as per the Tiger Census 2018 is 2,967 Tigers, which was 33% more than the 2014 Census and more than double, than the 2006 Tiger Census

Today, Project Tiger looks after 50 tiger reserves spread across 72,749 sq. km. of green cover in an effort to conserve the population of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Management

NTCA administers the Project Tiger completely. And for the same various conservation units have been established consisting of a field director and a group of technical people to assist.

Various conservation units that have been formed to help Project Tiger in India are:

Eastern Ghats Conservation Unit

Western Ghats Conservation Unit

Central India Conservation Unit

North-East Conservation Unit

Sariska Conservation Unit

Kaziranga Conservation Unit

Shivalik Terai Conservation Unit

Sunderbans Conservation Unit

For the sake of efficient management and tiger density-based administration, tiger reserves are created on the basis of a ‘core-buffer’ strategy.

Project Tiger Initiative in India was started in 1973

Image credit@Sujay

A particular expanse of land is identified and marked as the ‘core’ area of the reserve. These areas are kept free of all human activities. It usually has a legal status of National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary. No human activity is allowed inside the core area, including tourism. Even everyday tasks such as grazing and wood collection are banned.

The buffer areas usually surround the core area and are comparatively less frequented by the resident wildlife. Hence, limited human interaction here will not harm their habitat. Hence, it is subjected to ‘conservation-oriented land use’. Certain everyday activities necessary for daily life and living of surrounding villages is allowed.

The buffer area serves twin purposes. One, it serves as habitat supplement to spillover population of wild animals from the core area. Two, it becomes a livelihood source for surrounding villages and relieves their impact on the core zone.

The plan of action for each tiger reserve is drawn upon following key principles:

Elimination of all human interference from the core area and careful rationalization of activities in the buffer area

Limiting the habitat management practices to only repair activities for ecosystem damage

Monitoring the floral and faunal changes overtime for research

To counter poaching, wireless communication systems and outstation patrol camps have been deployed within the tiger reserves. Fire protection is ensured through preventive and control measures. Compensatory developmental works have improved water availability which in turn betters vegetation. Lush vegetation cover helps in increasing the tiger prey base.

Village relocation is one of the significant steps as well as a hurdle to reserve management in core zones. While some villages relocate voluntarily, most others resist giving up their ancestral dwellings. The issue gets even more sensitive in the case of tribal communities.

The Indian Government passed the Forest Rights Act in 2006 which recognized the right of some forest communities to their native forest area. Recognition of this right is bound to have a serious implication of tiger conservation efforts, the extent of which is yet to be determined.

The success of Project Tiger

India was facing a huge challenge in the conservation of Tiger, with only 1200 Tigers left in the wild, It was a great threat to these beautiful Big Cat. But a Great Thanks to NTCA to launch Project Tiger in 1973.

The tiger population now is around 3,000, which is still not healthy and stable, but thanks to Project Tiger. It’s all because of efforts of NTCA and Tiger Project Team

Royal Bengal Tigers population is still a point of concern, but at least it is increasing and more people are coming together to conserve Tigers, many people are now aware of the conservation measures and participating actively in wildlife conservation-related activities.

List of Project Tiger, Tiger Reserves in India

Below is the list of tiger reserves in India under Project Tiger.

Sr. Tiger Reserve

Name State Estd. Year Approx. Area

(core + buffer) 1. Bandipur TR Karnataka 1973 1456 2. Corbett TR Uttrakhand 1973 1288 3. Kanha TR M.P. 1973 2051 4. Manas Aasam 1973 2837 5. Sunderbans West Bengal 1973 2584 6. Melghat TR Maharashtra 1973 2768 7. Ranthambore Rajasthan 1973 1411 8. Palamau TR Jharkhand 1973 1129 9. Similipal Odisha 1973 2750 10. Periyar Kerala 1978 925 11. Sariska TR Rajasthan 1978 1213 12. Buxa TR West Bengal 1983 757 13. Indravati Chhattisgarh 1983 2799 14. Namdapha A.P. 1983 2025 15. Dudhwa U.P. 1987 2201 16. Kalakad

Mundanthurai Tamil Nadu 1988 1601 17. Valmiki TR Bihar 1989 899 18. Pench TR M.P. 1992 1799 19. Tadoba TR Maharashtra 1995 1727 20. Bandhavgarh M.P. 1530 21. Panna TR M.P. 1599 22. Dampa Mizoram 988 23. Bhadra Karnataka 1064 24. Pench Maharashtra 741 25. Pakke A.P. 1198 26. Nameri Assam 464 27. Satpura M.P. 2133 28. Anamalai TR Tamil Nadu 1480 29. Udanti Sitanadi Chattisgarh 1842 30. Satkosia Odisha 964 31. Kaziranga Assam 1174 32. Achanakmar Chattisgarh 914 33. Dandeli Anshi Karnataka 1097 34. Sanjay-Dubri M.P. 1675 35. Mudumalai Tamil Nadu 689 36. Nagarahole Karnataka 1206 37. Parambikulam Kerala 644 38. Sahyadri Maharashtra 1165 39. Biligiri

Ranganatha

Temple Karnataka 575 40. Kawal Telangana 2015 41. Sathyamangalam Tamil Nadu 1408 42. Mukandra Hills Rajasthan 760 43. Nawegaon Nagzira Maharashtra 1895 44. Nagarjunsagar

Srisailam A.P. 3296 45. Amrabad Telangana 2611 46. Pilibhit U.P. 730 47. Bor Maharashtra 816 48. Rajaji Uttarakhand 1075 49. Orang Assam 492 50 Kamlang A.P. 783

Statewise list of Tiger Reserves in India in PDF Format

DOWNLOAD the complete “list of Tiger Reserves” in India PDF format with the core area, buffer area and total area updated till 2019.

Some facts about Tigers in India

India hosts a total of 75% tiger population of the world

The result of the last Tiger Census 2018 was declared on 29 July 2019.

The total number of tigers in India is 2967 as per the latest 2018 Tiger Census report .

. India is the only country to host three prime members of Big Cats Family; Lion, Tiger, and Leopards

India has more than 100 National Parks and 50 Tiger Reserves

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