India is the biggest and most secure habitat for tigers with a population of 2967 as per the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation released on July 29. The population of tigers in India has increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018, with a rise of 33 per cent, according to the latest tiger census report.
Wildlife Institute of India authored the report along with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and state Forest Departments.
“The results of the just declared tiger census would make every Indian, every nature lover happy,” PM Modi said during the release of the report.
According to the report, ‘The Tiger Estimation Report 2018’, India has already achieved the target of doubling the tiger population as per the 2022 target set in St. Petersburg nine years ago.
A commitment fulfilled, that too well in advance!
It was decided to work towards doubling the tiger population by 2022 but India achieved this 4 years in advance!
India is proud to be home to almost 75% of the global tiger population. #InternationalTigerDay pic.twitter.com/t98f2RICE5
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 29, 2019
To mark the International Tiger Day, PM Modi also released a report titled “Management Effectiveness & Evaluation of Tiger reserves” along with a trailer of the movie “Counting Tigers”, explaining the process of counting tigers in India.
The Tiger Census Survey was conducted using 26,000 camera traps that captured almost 350,000 images across all tiger habitats. Economic valuation of tigers in combating the adverse impact of climate change was also undertaken.
As per the census, Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka at 524 and Uttarakhand at 442. However, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram have seen a decline in the numbers and Odisha maintained its tiger count constant.
“The story which started from ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ and reached to ‘Tiger Zinda hai’, shouldn’t end there,” Modi said, referring to the Salman Khan-starrer Bollywood movie.
The story that started with @EkThaTiger and then continued with @TigerZindaHai , should not stop there. It should be "Baaghon mein bahaar hai" : PM @narendramodi on a lighter note on the occasion of #InternationalTigerDay @PrakashJavdekar @moefcc pic.twitter.com/p04M8lIbaq
— PIB India (@PIB_India) July 29, 2019
In his speech during the release, Modi also spoke about the urgent need of striking a “healthy balance between development and environment”. “There is a very old debate- development or environment. Both sides present views as if each is mutually exclusive,” he said.
Modi also stressed on the policies that need to change the ‘conversation about conservation’.
Development and the environment are not mutually exclusive.
India will progress economically and take the lead in protecting the environment. #InternationalTigerDay pic.twitter.com/RjcBMGpFvh
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 29, 2019
“In 5 years, the number of protected areas have increased from 692 to 860, community reserves from 43 to 100,” PM informed.
The Tiger Census of 2006 showed the tiger’s depleting numbers, which stood at 1,411. However, it continued to grow with 2010 reporting 1,706 tigers, 2014 witnessing 2,226 tigers and 2018 with 2,967 tigers.
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