“India’s Tiger Population Doubles: A Success Story of Conservation Efforts”
India’s Tiger Population Doubles Due to Conservation Efforts, Study Finds
A recent study published in the journal Science has revealed that the tiger population in India has doubled between 2010 and 2022, from 1,706 tigers to approximately 3,682. This significant increase is attributed to conservation efforts focused on protecting tigers from habitat loss and poaching, ensuring an adequate prey base, improving community living standards near tiger habitats, and reducing human-wildlife conflict.
India is now home to approximately 75% of the world’s tiger population, with estimates from the National Tiger Conservation Authority supporting this claim. The study, titled “Tiger recovery amid people and poverty,” highlights the success of India’s conservation efforts in not only benefiting tiger populations but also local communities.
Lead author of the study, Yadvendradev Jhala, emphasized that it is not human density but the attitude of people that matters more in tiger conservation. The research showed that tigers persistently occupied human-free, prey-rich protected areas, as well as proximal connected habitats shared with approximately 60 million people.
Ecologists and wildlife conservationists have praised India’s tiger recovery but also stressed the importance of making source data available to a wider group of scientists for better monitoring and conservation efforts. While some discrepancies in official tiger monitoring program estimates have been noted, the study’s findings have corrected anomalies related to tiger population size and distribution.
The study also highlighted the benefits of tiger conservation to local communities through ecotourism, with some communities near tiger habitats experiencing economic growth due to increased foot traffic and revenue generated by tourists.
Despite the positive outcomes of tiger conservation efforts, experts like wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam have called for extended protections to other species to maintain the ecosystem’s balance. The study emphasized the need for habitat protection, prey availability, and reduced human-wildlife conflict to ensure the continued recovery of tiger populations in India.
India’s success in tiger conservation offers hope for the recovery of other megafauna species globally, particularly in regions facing similar challenges. The study’s findings underscore the importance of community support, habitat preservation, and sustainable conservation practices in safeguarding endangered species and their habitats.