International Tiger Day: India leads the world in tiger conservation

New Delhi: Every year on July 29, International Tiger Day is celebrated to highlight the importance of tiger conservation across the globe.

The declaration to celebrate this day was made on July 29, 2010, in St. Petersburg, aiming to unite all tiger range countries in a concerted effort to enhance tiger conservation and management worldwide.

This day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by these magnificent creatures and the efforts being made to safeguard their future.

As per the 5th cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation 2022, India has a minimum of 3,167 tigers and is now home to more than 70% of the world’s wild tiger population.

Further data analysis using the latest statistical models for camera-trapped and non-camera-trapped tiger presence areas estimates the upper limit of the tiger population at 3,925, with an average number of 3,682 tigers, reflecting a commendable annual growth rate of 6.1%.

History of India’s Tiger Conservation

Alarmed by this dismal trend, the Indian Board for Wild Life (IBWL) convened a meeting in New Delhi in July 1969. The board recommended a total ban on the export of all wild cat skins, including those of tigers.

This crucial step was supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which met in Delhi the same year. The IUCN’s 10th Assembly included the tiger in its “Red Data Book” as an endangered species and called for a global ban on tiger killings.

In response to the growing concern, the IBWL’s Executive Committee formed an 11-member Task Force to investigate the issue and devise a comprehensive conservation strategy.

This initiative marked the inception of Project Tiger. The Task Force submitted its final report in August 1972, recommending that eight tiger forests across India be included in the project.

On April 1, 1973, Project Tiger was officially launched at the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The initial phase included nine tiger reserve.

The declaration of the new Veerangana Durgavati” tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh has increased the total number of tiger reserves in India to 54.

These reserves collectively cover more than 78,000 square kilometers, accounting for over 2.30% of India’s geographical area. This expansion underscores India’s commitment to providing extensive and diverse habitats for tigers.

During a commemorative program of 50 years of Project Tiger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in 2023 for the conservation of seven big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.

The alliance aims to reach out to range countries covering the natural habitats of these big cats. The IBCA seeks to strengthen global cooperation and efforts to conserve these wild denizens.

In 2022-23, several Indian tiger reserves received international accolades. The Pench Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh, along with the Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, were jointly awarded the prestigious Tx2 award.

This award is presented by a consortium of international organizations, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Global Tiger Forum (GTF).

The feed is taken from PIB