Breaking

29 Jul 2023

International Tiger Day: Big Cat Numbers Increase In India But There Are Causes Of Concern Also

The number of tigers in Madhya Pradesh rose to 785 in 2022 from 526 in 2018, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday as he greeted the state’s people on International Tiger Day.

On April 9, 2022, during the celebration of 50 years of the Project Tiger at Mysusru,  PM Narendra Modi declared the minimum tiger population of 3167, which is the population estimate from the camera-trapped area.

 

Annual growth rate of 6.1% in big cat number 


Now, further analysis of data, done by the Wildlife Institute of India, from both camera-trapped and non-camera-trapped tiger presence areas, the upper limit of the tiger population is estimated to be 3925 and the average number is 3682 tigers, reflecting a commendable annual growth rate of 6.1% per annum

 

But while the number of tigers has risen there are also caused of worry as certain regions show declines in numbers and at least one-third of all reserves need immediate remedial measures to maintain and support tiger populations


On the occasion of the Global Tiger Day celebrated at the Corbett Tiger Reserve today , 29 July 2023, a detailed report was released by Union MoS Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey. In this program  CM Uttarakhand and Union MOS Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Tourism Ajay Bhatt also participated besides officers from tiger range states, MoEFCC and NTCA.


 

Largest tiger population in MP, followed by Karnataka



The largest tiger population of 785 is in Madhya Pradesh, followed by Karnataka (563) & Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).

Corbett in UP has highest 260 tigers

 

The tiger abundance within the Tiger Reserve is highest in Corbett (260), followed by Bandipur (150), Nagarhole (141), Bandhavgarh (135), Dudhwa (135), Mudumalai(114), Kanha (105), Kaziranga (104), Sundarbans (100), Tadoba (97), Sathyamangalam (85), and Pench-MP (77).

35% of tiger reserves urgently require enhanced protection



Various tiger reserves have shown remarkable growth, while others face challenges. Approximately 35% of the tiger reserves urgently require enhanced protection measures, habitat restoration, ungulate augmentation, and subsequent tiger reintroduction.


Certain regions saw declines in tiger numbers



Central India and the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains witnessed notable increases in tiger population, particularly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra.

However, certain regions, such as the Western Ghats, experienced localized declines, necessitating targeted monitoring and conservation efforts.

Some states, including Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh, have reported disquieting trends with small tiger populations.

Need to continue eco-friendly development agenda


The report said that to preserve ecological integrity, there is need to continue eco-friendly development agenda, minimize mining impacts, and rehabilitate mining sites. Additionally, fortifying protected area management, intensifying anti-poaching measures, employing scientific thinking and technology-driven data collection, and addressing human-wildlife conflict are vital steps to protect the country's tiger populations.

India's Project Tiger has made tremendous progress in tiger conservation over the past five decades, but challenges like poaching is still a threat to tiger conservation. Continued efforts to protect tiger habitats and corridors are crucial for securing the future of India's tigers and their ecosystems for generations to come.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Pages