In the 20th century as the number of industries increased so did the
rate of extinction of wild animals.
The Bengal Tiger being an important species and the only tiger
sub-species in India saw a rapid decline up-to a point where it was
termed as severely endangered.
India being the home for about 70% of the world’s tiger population
had to prevent the extinction of the world’s biggest cat species.
In the 20th century India had about 4000 tigers but this number
rapidly fell to 1410.
The Indian government established National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA) in 2006 to monitor and take effective steps to increase
Tiger Population in India.
Tigers are landscape animals and are found in 5 different landscapes
in India. Namely, Shivalik Gangetic, Central India and the Eastern
Ghats,Western Ghats, North East Hills & Bramhaputra Plains and The
Sunderbans.
The NTCA conducts Census every 4 years to analyse the tiger
population.
It initially gather information with the help of the forest
department to gather evidences like paw marks, feces, sightings etc.
Secondly it collects data from cameras installed in reserve
forests.
The Primary scenario of Tiger population in 2006
Results of the first Census
Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka were the only states with tiger
population over 200.
Madhya pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and
Maharashtra were the top 5 states as per tiger population.
Landscape wise - Central India and the Eastern Ghats have the
highest tiger population.
After the 2006 Census the NTCA went on to establish new reserves,
track down poachers and implement stricter laws, improve the forest
department in regard to animal health and breeding.
The NTCA introduced satellite tracking of tigers to analyse its
hunting patterns, health and litter.
The NTCA has taken steps to prevent human tiger interaction to
prevent harm to both communities.
The NTCA is constantly working with the State governments to improve
the living conditions.
2010 Census results
2014 Census results
2018 Census results
Re-emergence of the tiger species in India
Conclusion
With the introduction of the National Tiger Conservation
Authority(NTCA) the tiger population had doubled in 2018 when compared
to its initial year.
The 2022 report says that there are 3167 tigers in which 3080 are
confirmed. The official results are yet to be declared.
With the increase of tiger population there arises other problems as
well. Poaching is still a lingering issues for the forest department,
even though the NTCA has taken strict measures there are still cases of
poaching.
With the increase of human population there is a rise in the
encroachment of land mass in the borders of the tiger reserves resulting
in human-tiger conflicts.
Tiger are territorial animals hence too many in one place can result
is tiger deaths. Relocating will be one of the issues in the
future.
Even with the above issues the NTCA have taken commendable measures
to ensure the tigers don’t go extinct.
The NTCA with the help of the government have now established 54
tiger reserves, with the most recent one in 2022.