Introduction

• 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.

References

• Tiger Census 2018 Report - Tiger Population in India 2019. (2018, February 8). https://bigcatsindia.com/tiger-census-2018/

• National Tiger Conservation Authority. (n.d.). Ntca.gov.in. https://ntca.gov.in/