Conservation of Tigers in India: Project Tiger

presentation on Project Tiger

1. Project Tiger

2. India is one of the thirteen countries where tigers are found in the wild, and it also contains the highest concentration of tiger source sites. As our country's mascot, the tiger plays a significant role in Indian society. The oldest known depiction of a tiger in India is Ceramics from the Harappan period (2500–1700 BCE) of the Indus valley culture portray a complex relationship between humans and tigers. Water, air, natural flood controls, and other forest resources are essential for tigers, as well as for human well-being and economic growth in Asia. Why ‘Project Tiger’ was initiated?

3. Because of their role as umbrella species, tiger populations in India need to be kept in good shape to guarantee that their natural habitats and food sources remain secure. Tigers are a singular species that contribute significantly to the health and diversity of an ecosystem. It is a top predator that maintains the balance between herbivores and the flora they consume by keeping the population of wild ungulates in check. Hence, the existence of tigers in the forest serves as an indicator of the ecosystem's health.

4. This apex predator's extinction indicates that its habitat is not adequately protected, as it would not survive for long afterward. At the turn of the 20th century, India reportedly had tens of thousands of tigers in the wild. The Indian government has made tiger conservation a top priority since the 1970s, when they initiated Project Tiger to save the species from extinction.

5. Mrs. Indira Gandhi created The Tiger Task Force in 1970, and it submitted its report in 1972, under the leadership of Dr. Karan Singh. The study found that just 1827 tigers remain in India. In 1973, this research led to the development of the Project Tiger plan for tiger conservation in India. Since the tiger was threatened by biotic pressure, many thought it would go extinct by the turn of the 20th century. Project Tiger has consistently defied predictions of failure since its inception. The Mission made sure that most of India's original tiger population was safe, even as its numbers plummeted in its native range. Project Tiger

6. The government of India began “Project Tiger” in 1973 in Jim Corbett National Park,Uttrakhand during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “Project Tiger” is administered by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Preserving areas of biological importance as natural habitats forever represented as closely as possible the diversity of ecosystems across the tigers' distribution in the country was central to this effort to ensure a sustainable population of Bengal tigers in their native habitat and prevent the species' extinction. The research team envisioned these tiger reserves as potential breeding grounds.

7. The purpose of the NTCA is to provide Project Tiger the authority it needs under the law to make following its orders mandatory. The greatest achievement of the Project has been the protection of many tiger populations at risk due to the increasing human population and the demand for forest habitat. With its new identity as National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Project hopes to standardize conservation science and recruit locals as active participants. In collaboration with NGOs, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the NTCA of the Government of India have been conducting tiger estimating surveys.

8. Tiger census is conducted every 4 years under NTCA. First Census- in 2006 followed by 2010, 2014 and 2018. Used Pugmark strategy. As per 2018 census India has 2937 tigers. M- STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers- Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) software developed by NTCA in 2010.

9. Milestones of the ‘Project Tiger’ It carried out a groundbreaking radio-telemetry investigation in the early 1980s. There were only nine tiger reserves in 1973, but by 2010 there were 39. Presently (in 2023) its number is 53 with a total area of 71027.10 km 2 . The success of Project Tiger is highlighted by the results of the most recent All India Tiger Estimate, which relied on a scientific methodology that has been reviewed and accepted on a global scale.

10. Economic valuation of six tiger reserves (Corbett, Kanha , Kaziranga , Periyar , Ranthambore and Sundarbans) concluded that “the monetary values of flow benefit emanating from selected tiger reserves ranges from 8.3-17.6 Billion annually”

11. Current State of Project Tiger As a result, the Indian policy of Project Tiger, which has been in place since 1972, is validated in its emphasis on 'core areas' as tiger source areas. India now has the most tiger source sites in the world thanks to this foresight and ongoing initiatives. Attempts are being made to provide local people with livelihood options that lessen their reliance on trees while also mainstreaming tiger concerns in the landscape surrounding such source sites through restorative efforts.

12. WWF-India was the leading non-governmental organization (NGO) partner of NTCA, WII, and state forest departments in 2018's countrywide tiger estimates exercise, which yielded a mean tiger population estimate of 2,967 (range 2400-3050).

13. Project Tiger 1973, Tiger Reserves, National Tiger Conservation Authority for UPSC/PSC/Other Exams – YouTube Project Tiger in India - Facts about Project Tiger - Is Project Tiger a Success or Failure? #UPSC – YouTube Project Tiger In India | Everything about Tiger Conservation (NTCA) (bigcatsindia.com)