India's tiger population soars, doubles in a decade: A roaring success in conservation of the big cats

Highlights India has doubled its tiger population in a decade, says a study published in the Journal Science Today, India is home to 75% of the remaining 5,574 tiger population of the world (estimated) Steps taken by India for tiger conservation, know the reasons behind its roaring success Tiger conservation would have never been possible without community support. Locals are the new ‘tiger friends’ Wildlife protection legislation in India It is time to adopt a similar approach for the conservation of endangered animals like the Rhinoceros, the Great Indian Bustard, the Caracal, among others

A study published in the journal Science by Mr 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. 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), the number of tigers in India has grown significantly, with a decline in mortality rate in 10 years: 

Estimated tiger population over a decade (Source: NTCA) 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].  In the 2020s, the world tiger population is estimated to be only 4,500 in the wild [2]. According to the Global Tiger Forum, the estimated wild tigers stood at 5,574 in 2023 [3] . The increased urbanization, increased human use of forest resources, poaching, human-wildlife conflicts, and habitat loss have posed problems for the wild, threatening their growth [4].  But overcoming all these, here is how India managed through a remarkable recovery with the constant tiger conservation efforts:

Important steps taken for tiger conservation: Big lessons for the world

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:

Enough prey for the big cat There is plenty of food for the tigers to prey on, this includes deer, wiincludingother 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]. Reducing human-wildlife conflict

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. 

Awareness campaigns are also run to sensitize, guide, and educate the common people about the man-animal conflict.

Wildlife protection legislation is needed to ensure protection and habitat loss

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’s fur, 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.    

Improvement in the lives of nearby communities 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.   

Community support 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] .

You can also check out the complete report by Science here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk4827 

While the tiger conservation efforts are promising, there is also a need to ensure the same for other wild species as well: 

The leopard, Carcal, Rhinoceros, and the Great Indian Bustard are in danger today (as per IUCN) and need to be saved 

 

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 a,nd 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.