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Context:
A study published in Science, led by Yadvendradev Jhala and colleagues, found that India’s tiger population has grown by 30% over the past two decades.
Key Findings
- Population Growth
- India’s tiger population has increased by 30% over the last 20 years, demonstrating success in conservation efforts.
- Balance of Strategies
- The recovery was made possible through a combination of scientific strategies and a careful balance of land-sharing and land-sparing approaches.
- Coexistence with Humans
- Tigers now coexist with over 66 million people, showing that such coexistence is feasible despite challenges.
Conservation Strategies
- Protected Areas
- The study highlights the importance of protected areas with no human habitation, which sustain 85% of breeding populations.
- Corridors and Land-Use Practices
- Tiger populations have been able to disperse and expand into multi-use forests thanks to corridors and sustainable land-use practices.
- Success Despite Global Decline
- India’s success contrasts with the global decline of wildlife populations, which have dropped by 73%.
Legislative and Socio-Economic Influences
- Strong Legal Framework
- India’s tiger recovery is strengthened by strong legislation such as the Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
- Socio-Economic Impact
- Regions with lower dependence on forest resources and better socio-economic conditions saw higher tiger recolonization rates.
- Challenges in Vulnerable Areas
- Areas with high poverty or armed conflict (such as in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand) have faced tiger population declines.
Challenges and Unexplored Habitats
- Habitat Degradation
- Despite progress, there are still 157,000 sq km of potential tiger habitats that are unoccupied, mainly due to socio-political instability and habitat degradation.
Government Data and Tiger Numbers
- Current Population: According to government data (July 2024), India is home to 70% of the world’s wild tiger population.
- Population Growth:
- 2006: 1,411 tigers
- 2010: 1,706 tigers
- 2018: 2,967 tigers
- 2024: 2,226 tigers