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A study published in the journal Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington DC, USA) on January 30, 2025, by YV Jhala, Ninad Avinash Mungi, Rajesh Gopal, and Qamar Qureshi revealed that India has doubled its tiger population in a decade—a brief period of ten years from 2006-2018 [18]. The Bengal tiger, India's national animal, was once declared an ‘endangered species’ but is now thriving in the wild. In the early 2000s, experts warned the world that the ‘big cat’ would soon go extinct, but thanks to the conservation efforts in India, the tiger population has significantly grown.
According to the National Tiger Population Authority (NTCA), India, the number of tigers in India has grown significantly, with a decline in mortality rate in 10 years:
|
Year |
No of tigers |
Mortality rate |
|
2010 |
1,706 |
Data not provided |
|
2022 |
3,682 |
121 |
(An increase in the growth rate of 10% per annum)
The country is now abode to an average of 75% of the global tiger population, spread across 138,200 square kilometers area which is about half the size of the UK [1].
But overcoming all these, here is how India managed through a remarkable recovery with the constant tiger conservation efforts:
Royal Bengal tiger spotted drinking water at a pond at the National Zoological Park in July 2024 (Image source: PTI)
The published study in the journal Science says India’s success “offers important lessons for tiger range countries”. Indeed, it is. The conservation efforts adopted have not only benefited the biodiversity at large but also the nearby communities. Here is how:
There is plenty of food for the tigers to prey on, this includes deer, boar, and other ungulates. Perhaps, this is why they do not exhibit a man-eating behavior. Thus, in the tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks, the tigers have enough availability of food. They evolved to hunt and feed on the prey species in their native habitats.
But this hasn’t been consistent everywhere. Some reserves have witnessed an increase in prey population, while others still face challenges in meeting the food requirements of the growing tiger population [5].
In the states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan, tigers share a significant portion of land with people. Human-wildlife conflict is a frequent phenomenon due to agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, climate change, and population growth [6].
To deal with human-wildlife conflict in these areas, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has issued three Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to manage [7] –
The issue of dispersing tigers
Livestock kills so that no conflict arises
Relocating the tigers in source areas to areas where their density is low so that conflict does not occur. The limited habitat interventions can lead to less spillover of wildlife, minimizing human-animal conflict. Based on biogeography and habitat connectivity, NTCA has identified key landscapes as source areas, which include the Shivalik-Gangetic plain (Rajaji-Corbett-Dudhwa), Central India and Eastern Ghats (Ranthambore, Madhav, Kuno, Bandhavgarh), Western Ghats (Sahyadri, Radhanagari), North Eastern Hills (Manas, Orang), and some other important areas like Kaziranga and Sunderbans.
Awareness campaigns are also run by the Indian Government and the Forest Department to sensitize, guide, and educate the common people about the man-animal conflict.
Strict legislation ensures that animals and birds thrive in the wild and biodiversity is sustained (Image source: Freepik) Tiger conservation largely relies on the strong protection legislation of India. This is to protect them from poaching and habitat loss. Poaching cases have seen a significant dip in recent times. There was a massive hunt earlier, for the tiger skin, nails, and bones for monetary gain, and particularly enough for establishing a status [8] [9]. Poaching and trafficking of wildlife species is a crime in India [10]. The strong framework of legislation in the Constitution of India states:
Wildlife Protection Act (1972) that prohibits poaching, trading, and harming tiger habitats
Project Tiger (1973), an initiative by the Government of India that established dedicated tiger reserves in the country to protect the tiger population.
Forest Conservation Act (1980), which protects the forests of India and their biodiversity, and regulates the use of forest land for non-forestry purposes.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (2005), a wildlife conservation agency that aims to protect endangered species.
Along with this, the Central Government-sponsored scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats provides funding support for Tiger conservation plans. Site-specific management interventions are undertaken to improve the quality of wildlife habitat.
The local communities that live nearby to the tiger-populated areas have benefited from the increase in the tiger population. The foot traffic and revenues brought in by eco-tourism have been a boon for the communities [11].
As many as 60 million people living in farming communities and settlements outside of tiger reserves and national parks are sharing land with the tigers [12]. Economic prosperity, along with the sustainable use of ecosystems, can only add to the recovery of tigers.
Tiger conservation could never have been possible without active community participation. The animal had almost disappeared from various areas that were not near national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and protected areas. But with the support of the nearby communities, the situation is in control again:
Local communities are lending their hand in ensuring the growth of the tiger population.
Some communities have even taken an oath not to cut trees and be 'tiger friends' as addressed by Indian Prime Minister Modi in his 112th Mann ki Baat [13].
They participate in conservation efforts and community-based programmes and are engaged in rural prosperity.
Tiger recovery in India has also been possible because of global efforts and international collaborations, including the Global Tiger Recovery Program, the launch of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), and Bilateral cooperation with tiger range countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia [14].
As many as 3,080 individual tigers were trapped on camera in the forested habitats of 20 states of the Indian landscape, as per the summary report of All India Tiger Estimation (2022):
| Landscape | Camera Trapped tigers (2022) |
| Shivalik hills & Gangetic plains landscape | 804 |
| Central Indian Highlands & Eastern Ghats landscape | 1,161 |
| Western Ghats landscape | 824 |
| Northern Eastern Hills & Brahmaputra plains landscape | 194 |
| Sunderbans Landscape | 100 |
| Total number of photo-captured tigers in India | 3,080 |
Here is a state population estimate of the number of tigers in India (which were photo-trapped) according to NTA. The major states include:
| State | Tiger population (2022) |
| Madhya Pradesh | 785 |
| Maharashtra | 444 |
| Karnataka | 563 |
| Uttarakhand | 560 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 205 |
| Assam | 229 |
| Tamil Nadu | 306 |
| Rajasthan | 88 |
The highest number of tigers in India is found in Madhya Pradesh, followed by Karnataka and Uttarakhand, with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh. When we take into account the estimated number of tigers in Tiger reserves, we find the highest number in: Jim Corbett (260), Bandhavgarh (135), Kanha (105), and Pench-MP (77), Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve, TATR (97), Bandipur (150), Nagarhole (141), Kaziranga (104), and Sunderbans (100) [19].
Map showing the location of the tiger reserves in India (Source: NTCA)
While the tiger conservation efforts are promising, there is also a need to ensure the same for other wild species as well:
To mention, the Great Indian Bustard (only 200 remained worldwide until 2024) and the Caracal stand on the edge of extinction. For the former, the Government is trying to protect the habitat of the bird by setting up incubation centers to foster their breeding [15].
Even though the Caracal is under the least concern in the IUCN Red list, it is still ‘near threatened’ and on the brink of extinction [16]. Until 2023, only 50 Caracals were estimated in North-west India (clustered in Gujarat and Rajasthan), inhabited by these small wild cats.
Not to forget, the species of Rhinoceros also stands endangered. Out of which Javan (only 46 on Earth), Sumatran (34-47 in the wild), and Black Rhinos are critically endangered, the one-horned Rhino is vulnerable, and white rhinos are near threatened. They are in critical danger due to poaching activities and habitat loss [17].
The Leopards are also threatened and are listed as “endangered”. IUCN lists them in the “vulnerable” category, facing habitat loss and fragmentation.
Therefore, more stringent efforts need to be adopted, and again, the government and communities have to strive for it. The success of tiger conservation in India can be called 'a ray of hope’ which also reflects how man and the wild can survive together, rather grow in the long run! It is time, we adopt a similar approach for other wild species as well.
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