There are now 3,167 tigers in India’s forests, up 200 from 2018, the latest government estimates show. While the survey has given reasons to cheer, it has also raised concerns over the dwindling numbers of tigers in several major states.
The latest estimate puts a total of 3,080 individual tigers (aged above 1 year) photographed, which is more than the number of tigers captured in 2018.
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The Prime Minister said, “Tiger numbers are stable or declining in most of the 13 tiger range countries, but India has been able to set an example.” Narendra Modi As he released the ‘5th cycle of All India Tiger Estimation’. “It’s all because of our culture of public participation and conservation.”
Camera traps were placed at 32,588 locations spread over 174 sites for the mark recapture analysis. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), over 47 million camera trap images were differentiated, identifying 3,080 tigers.
Tiger dominance falling in states
While the increase in tiger numbers remains modest, the decline in tiger numbers over vast areas remains worrying. The report raises concerns about how deteriorating landscapes, deforestation and poaching are threatening the long-term survival of the big cats.
India now has at least 1,161 tigers in central India, 824 in the Western Ghats, 804 in the Shivalik range, 194 in the north-eastern states and 100 in the Sundarbans. North-western states such as Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh now have more tigers outside reserves, requiring authorities to step up habitat protection.
On the other hand, the Western Ghats, which is home to the largest population of tigers in the world, has shown a significant decline in tiger populations, especially outside protected areas. Not only is the region rapidly losing forests, but increasing human-wildlife conflict is also threatening the development of the endangered cat, the report said.
Big Cat occupancy has also declined in the states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. On the eastern front too, the number of tigers remained low at 194. Large forest areas and protected reserves are devoid of tigers in the north-eastern hills due to threats to their existence from traditional hunting practices, habitat loss, fragmentation and poaching. The report states that even though poaching is illegal, demand for tiger products is high and poachers continue to kill tigers for profit.
A special day amid flora and fauna diversity and good news on tiger population… Here are today’s highlights… pic.twitter.com/Vv6HVhzdvKNarendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2023
tiger death rate
The period covered by the survey – 2018 to 2022 – also saw 551 tiger deaths, of which 208 were adults. In the last five years, the average tiger deaths per year have been around 110 – 101 in 2018, 96 in 2019, 106 in 2020, 127 in 2021 and 121 in 2022.
The government recently told Parliament that 50% of the total 121 deaths in 2022 were adults. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which maintains the data, said most of the deaths were due to natural causes, followed by poisoning, snaring, shooting, electrocution and poaching.
Launch of the Big Cats Alliance
India takes stock of its population every four years. While only 1,411 tigers were estimated to be in the wild in 2006, the country has been able to more than double the population, reaching 2,967 in 2018, according to government estimates.
Strengthening conservation measures, India also launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA), which seeks to prevent illegal wildlife trade and protect the world’s seven major big cats – tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar. There is a global agreement for and Cheetah. All 97 range countries hosting these species will be part of the alliance.
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