The Prime Minister of India has released the results of the fourth cycle of
All India
Tiger Estimation - 2018 on the occasion of Global Tiger Day-2019.
According to results of the Tiger census, the total count of tigers has
risen to 2,967 from 2,226 in 2014 — an increase of 741 individuals (aged
more than one year), or 33%, in four years.
India has achieved the target of doubling the tiger count four years ahead
of the deadline of 2022.
This is by far the biggest increase in Tiger count in terms of both
numbers and percentage (since the four-yearly census using camera
traps and the capture-mark-recapture method began in 2006).
Need for Tiger Conservation
Tigers are at the top of the food chain and are sometimes referred to
as “umbrella species" that is their conservation also conserve many
other species in the same area.
The Tiger estimation exercise that includes habitat
assessment and prey estimation reflects the success or failure of Tiger
conservation efforts.
More than 80% of the world’s wild tigers are in India, and it’s crucial to
keep track of their numbers.
Tigers in India
India accounts for majority of the 3,500-odd tigers that are scattered
among Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos PDR,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russian Federation, Thailand and Vietnam.
India’s five tiger landscapes are: Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains,
Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, North-
East Hills and Brahmaputra Plains, and the Sundarbans.
Key Findings
Top Performers: Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers
(526) followed by Karnataka (524) and Uttarakhand (442).
o Increase in Tiger population: Madhya Pradesh (71%) >
Maharashtra (64%) > Karnataka (29%).
Worst Performers: Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in tiger
population.
o Chhattisgarh is the only state out of the 20 tiger-bearing
states where the 2018- census counted 19 tigers,
significantly fewer than the 46 of 2014.
o Decline in Tiger numbers in Chhattisgarh can be attributed to
the law and order problem as large parts of the state are hit
by the Maoist insurgency.
o Greater conservation efforts are needed in the “critically
vulnerable” Northeast hills and Odisha.
Tiger Sanctuaries: An evaluation of India’s 50 tiger sanctuaries was
also released along with the 4th National Tiger Estimation (Tiger
census).
o Madhya Pradesh's Pench Sanctuary and Kerala’s Periyar
sanctuary emerged as the best-managed tiger reserves in
the country.
o Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu registered
the “maximum improvement” since 2014.
o The Dampa and Rajaji reserves, in Mizoram and
Uttarakhand respectively are at the bottom of the list in terms
of Tiger count.
o No tiger has been found in the Buxa (West
Bengal), Palamau (Jharkhand) and Dampa (Mizoram)
reserves.
Global Tiger Day
Global Tiger Day was observed for the first time in 2010 at the St.
Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia when all 13 tiger range countries
came together for the first time with the commitment of doubling the
number of wild tigers by 2022.
It is celebrated annually on July 29th.
Global Tiger Recovery Plan which outlines how each country can
contribute to the ambitious goal, known as TX2
.
Si Population of tigers,
Tiger Reserve (Year of Creation) State
No. 2014[9]
1 Bandipur (1973–74) Karnataka 120
Si Population of tigers,
Tiger Reserve (Year of Creation) State
No. 2014[9]
2 Corbett (1973–74) Uttarakhand 215
Madhya
3 Kanha (1973–74) 80
Pradesh
4 Manas (1973–74) Assam 11
5 Melghat (1973–74) Maharashtra 25
6 Palamau (1973–74) Jharkhand 3
7 Ranthambore (1973–74) Rajasthan 37
8 Similipal (1973–74) Odisha 3
9 Sunderbans (1973–74) West Bengal 68
10 Periyar (1978–79) Kerala 20
11 Sariska (1978–79) Rajasthan 9
12 Buxa (1982–83) West Bengal 2
13 Indravati (1982–83) Chhattisgarh 12
Arunachal
14 Namdapha (1982–83) 11
Pradesh
15 Dudhwa (1987–88) Uttar Pradesh 58
16 Kalakad-Mundanthurai (1988–89) Tamil Nadu 10
Si Population of tigers,
Tiger Reserve (Year of Creation) State
No. 2014[9]
17 Valmiki (1989–90) Bihar 40
Madhya
18 Pench (1992–93) 43
Pradesh
19 Tadoba-Andhari (1993–94) Maharashtra 51
Madhya
20 Bandhavgarh (1993–94) 63
Pradesh
Madhya
21 Panna (1994–95) 17
Pradesh
22 Dampa (1994–95) Mizoram 3
23 Bhadra (1998–99) Karnataka 22
24 Pench (1998–99) Maharashtra 35
Arunachal
25 Pakke or Pakhui (1999-2000) 7
Pradesh
26 Nameri (1999-2000) Assam 5
Madhya
27 Satpura (1999-2000) 26
Pradesh
28 Anamalai (2008–09) Tamil Nadu 13
29 Udanti-Sitanadi (2008–09) Chhattisgarh 4
Si Population of tigers,
Tiger Reserve (Year of Creation) State
No. 2014[9]
30 Satkosia (2008–09) Odisha 3
31 Kaziranga (2008–09) Assam 103
32 Achanakmar (2008–09) Chhattisgarh 11
Dandeli-Anshi Tiger
33 Karnataka 5
Reserve(Kali) (2008–09)
Madhya
34 Sanjay-Dubri (2008–09) 8
Pradesh
35 Mudumalai (2008–09) Tamil Nadu 89
36 Nagarahole (2008–09) Karnataka 101
37 Parambikulam (2008–09) Kerala 19
38 Sahyadri (2009–10) Maharashtra 7
39 Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (2010–11) Karnataka 68
40 Kawal (2012–13) Telangana -
41 Sathyamangalam (2013–14) Tamil Nadu 72
42 Mukandra Hills (2013–14) Rajasthan -
43 Nawegaon-Nagzira (2013–14) Maharashtra 7
Si Population of tigers,
Tiger Reserve (Year of Creation) State
No. 2014[9]
44 Nagarjunsagar Srisailam (1982–83) Andhra Pradesh 74
45 Amrabad (2014) Telangana -
46 Pilibhit (2020) Uttar Pradesh 65
47 Bor (2014) Maharashtra 5
48 Rajaji (2015) Uttarakhand -
49 Orang (2016) Assam -
Arunachal
50 Kamlang (2016) -
Pradesh
14
51 Srivilliputhur Meghamalai (2021) Tamil Nadu