New Delhi: India’s wild tiger population - by far the largest in the world - has risen above 3,000, according to a census released Sunday, boosting efforts to conserve the endangered species.
The largest of all cats, tigers once roamed throughout central, eastern and southern Asia.
But in the past 100 years the tiger has lost more than 93 per cent of its historic range and now only survives in scattered populations in 13 countries, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Indian census found 3,167 tigers in the wild across the country, up from 2,967 reported in the last such count.
Surveys are conducted every four years, using camera traps and computer programmes to individually identify each creature.
The rate of increase has slowed to less than seven percent over the period, down from more than 30 per cent in the previous four years.
But Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the new count was a “proud moment”.
“Our family is expanding,” he said at a ceremony in the southern city of Mysuru. “This is a success not only for India but the entire world.”
Deforestation, poaching and human encroachment on habitats have devastated tiger populations across Asia but Modi said India had been able to increase its numbers thanks to “people’s participation” and the country’s “culture of conservation”.
India is now home to 75 percent of the global tiger population and also the “largest tiger range country in the world”, he added.
In 1900, more than 100,000 tigers were estimated to roam the planet. But that fell to a record low of 3,200 in 2010.
That year, India and 12 other countries with tiger populations signed an agreement to double their big cat numbers by 2022.
India is believed to have had a tiger population of around 40,000 at the time of independence from Britain in 1947.
That fell over subsequent decades to about 3,700 in 2002 and an all-time low of 1,411 four years later, but numbers have since risen steadily.
Tradition and culture
Highlighting the growing tiger population in the country, Modi on Sunday said India’s tradition and culture, as well as the biodiversity in the country, were among the major reasons for this achievement.
Modi inaugurated the ‘Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger’ on Sunday.
Addressing the inaugural session of the commemoration in Mysuru, the PM emphasised that protection of wildlife is a universal issue.
“Project Tiger leads the way in the protection and conservation of the big cats. International Big Cat Alliance is our endeavour for the protection and conservation of big cats,” he said.
While celebrating 75 years of Independence, India added 11 wetlands to its list of Ramsar sites. This took the total number of Ramsar sites to 75, he said.
For wildlife to thrive, Prime Minister said it is important for ecosystems to thrive and the same has been happening in the country.
Modi said, “A better future for humanity is possible only when our environment remains safe and our biodiversity continues to expand. This responsibility belongs to all of us, it belongs to the whole world. We are continuously encouraging this spirit during our G20 presidency.”
He said India is a country where protecting nature is part of the culture.
“With only 2.4 per cent of the world’s land area, India contributes about 8 per cent of known global biodiversity. India is home to the largest tiger range country in the world. We do not believe in the conflict between ecology and economy, but give importance to co-existence between the two,” he said.
In the last decade, PM Modi said the number of community reserves increased from 43 to over 100. The number of national parks and sanctuaries, around which eco-sensitive zones were notified, increased from 9 to 468 in a decade, he said. Modi said India is the only country in the world to have Asiatic lions. The lion population in India has increased from 525 in 2015 to 675 in 2020. The leopard population went up by over 60 per cent in just four years.
Referring to ‘Project Cheetah’, Modi said: “Cheetahs had become extinct in India decades ago. We brought this magnificent big cat to India from Namibia and South Africa. This is the first successful trans-continental translocation of the big cat. A few days ago, four beautiful cubs were born in Kuno National Park,” he said.
He stressed that the presence of Big Cats has made a positive impact on the lives and ecology of the local people everywhere. Due to Big Cats, PM said the number of tourists to Tiger Reserves has increased and this has strengthened the local economy.
He further said, “The lifestyle of the tribal society also helps a lot in understanding the vision of ‘Mission Life’, that is, Lifestyle for Environment. That is why I request all of you to definitely take something from the life and tradition of tribal society for your country and society.”
“The Elephant Whispers documentary that won an Oscar also reflects our legacy of the wonderful relationship between nature and creatures. I urge you (foreign dignitaries) to take something from the life and tradition of our tribal society,” added Modi.
With the aim to curb poaching and illegal wildlife trade, Prime Minister on Sunday launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) in Karnataka.
During the programme, he released the publication ‘Amrit Kaal Ka Vision for Tiger Conservation’, a summary report of 5th cycle of Management Effective Evaluation of Tiger Reserves.
He also released a summary report of All India Tiger Estimation (5th cycle). PM Modi also released a commemorative coin on the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger.
