Tiger Census Data 2023 reveals India's Tiger Population Rises

Tiger Census Data 2023: In a significant conservation achievement, India’s tiger population has increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, marking a 6% annual growth. This announcement came on International Tiger Day, highlighting India’s remarkable efforts in tiger conservation.

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India is now home to approximately 75% of the world’s tiger population, solidifying its position as a global leader in tiger conservation.

Prime Minister’s Involvement

The “Status of Tigers 2022” report was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of “Project Tiger.” At that time, the government had estimated at least 3,167 tigers in India.

State-wise Distribution:

Madhya Pradesh Leads: In Madhya Pradesh it has seen a remarkable 50% increase in tiger population over the last four years, with 785 tigers, making it the state with the most tigers. Karnataka follows with 563, Uttarakhand with 560, and Maharashtra with 444.
Challenges in Some States: States like Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand have experienced a decline in tiger numbers, requiring urgent conservation efforts.
Tiger Reserves: Around 35% of India’s 53 tiger reserves need enhanced protection, habitat restoration, and tiger reintroduction measures to ensure the future of these majestic cats.

Highlights and Concerns:

Encouraging Trends: The report highlighted the increase in tiger numbers in the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains landscape, with photographic evidence of tigers in new areas, raising hopes for range expansion.
Challenges in Western Ghats: The Western Ghats saw a decrease in tiger occupancy due to increasing human footprint and development, emphasizing the need for addressing human-wildlife conflicts.
Northeastern Hills and Brahmaputra Plains: While the tiger population in this region is consider as “secure,” intensive conservation efforts are the need of hour due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
Central India: The tiger population has expanded, but conservation efforts are required in areas where local populations have become extinct to prevent human-tiger interactions.
Sundarbans: The population remains steady, but cross-border collaboration with Bangladesh is essential to protect this unique ecosystem.

Call for Conservation:

Government’s Appeal: The government has called for serious conservation efforts to aid the recovery of the tiger population in states facing declines.
Environmental Balance: The Uttarakhand Chief Minister emphasized the need for a balance between ecology and economy, seeking more resources to curb man-animal conflicts and illegal poaching.

This comprehensive report not only highlights India’s conservation success but also underscores the importance of continued efforts to protect the iconic tiger.