New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday revealed that the tiger population in the country stood at 3,167, which is a 6.74% increase in tiger numbers since 2018.
In 2018, the population of tigers in the country was 2,967.
Releasing the latest census data in Karnataka’s Mysuru on the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “The success of ‘Project Tiger’ is a matter of pride not only for India but for the whole world.”
The success of Project Tiger is a matter of pride not only for India but for the whole world: PM Shri @narendramodi ji #50YearsOfProjectTiger pic.twitter.com/hKDWsfFNfl
— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) April 9, 2023
As per the official figure, there were 1,411 tigers in 2006; 1,706 in 2010; 2,226 in 2014 and 2,967 in 2018.
There has been a 124.45% increase in tiger numbers since 2006 according to the estimation results.
Project Tiger, launched in 1973 by the Indira Gandhi government, completed its golden jubilee on April 1.
To mark the occasion, at an event ‘Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger’, PM Modi launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA), which will focus on the protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah — with the membership of the range countries harbouring these species.
Prime Minister Modi also released the publication ‘Amrit kaal ka vision for tiger conservation’, a summary report of 5th cycle of Management Effective Evaluation of Tiger Reserves, declared tiger numbers and released a summary report of All India Tiger Estimation (5th cycle).
During the event, A commemorative coin on the completion of 50 years of ‘Project Tiger’ was also released.
The Prime Minister emphasized that India has not only saved the tiger population from declining but also provided an ecosystem where tigers can flourish.
He expressed happiness that India is home to 75% of the world’s tiger population in the 75th year of Indian independence.
It is also a coincidence, the Prime Minister continued, that the tiger reserves in India cover 75,000 square kilometers of land and in the past ten to twelve years, the tiger population in the country has increased by 75 percent.
Noting India’s unique achievements in wildlife conservation, the Prime Minister said, “India is a country where protecting nature is a part of the culture”.
He mentioned that India has only 2.4 percent of the world’s land area but it contributes toward 8 percent to known global biodiversity.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the morning and interacted with frontline field staff and Self Help Groups involved in conservation activities.
He also visited the mp Theppakadu Elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu where he met Bomman and Bellie, the stars of the Oscar award-winning documentary “The Elephant Whisperers.”
What a delight to meet the wonderful Bomman and Belli, along with Bommi and Raghu. pic.twitter.com/Jt75AslRfF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2023
PM Modi had an interaction with mahouts and kavadis in the Elephant camp. He also released a booklet ‘Amrit Kaal Ka Tiger Vision’, presenting the vision for tiger conservation in the next 25 years.
The Prime Minister further mentioned that the population of lions,leopards, elephants and single-horned rhinos has also increased with India having the largest number of Asiatic elephants and single-horned rhinos in the world, and being the only country where the Asiatic lion is found.
“With only 2.4 per cent of global land area, India contributes to 8 per cent of wildlife diversity. India is the largest tiger range country in the world. With nearly 30,000 elephants, we are the largest Asiatic Elephant range in the world,” he said, noting that the population of single horned rhinoceros was also the highest.
Due to various conservation efforts, the population of Asiatic lions has also grown from 525 in 2015 to 675 in 2020, whereas the population of leopards has increased 60 per cent in just four years.
Talking about the International Big Cat Alliance, the Prime Minister said “Wildlife conservation is not a concern of one nation but an universal issue.
“International (Big Cat) Alliance is the need of the hour,” he said, adding that this would help in financial and technical assistance for conservation and protection of wildlife”.
“Focus of the Alliance is to conserve seven big cats of the world… Nations with these animals are part of the alliance, and can share their experience and help partner nations. The Alliance will work together for research, training and capacity building,” he said.
