India celebrates 50 years of Project Tiger

India celebrates 50 years of Project Tiger
 

News: The Indian government will officially mark the 50th year of ‘Project Tiger’ on 9 April with a three-day event
in Mysuru, Karnataka.
 

About Project Tiger:

Key Achievements:
 The number of tigers in India has increased from 1827 (the 1970s) to around 2967, with a 30% rise in the population in the last eight years.
 9 tiger reserves covering 18,278 sq km in 9 states (the 1970s) to currently, 54 tiger reserves spread over more than 75,000 sq km in 18 tiger range states.
 As hunting was banned to save tigers, the population of many other animals started increasing.
 With a current population of about 3,000 tigers, India is home to more than 70% of the global tiger population.
 TX2 (goal of doubling wild tiger population by 2022) – India achieved this target 4 year in advance as part of St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation.
 

Challenges faced:
 As per NTCA, 1059 tiger deaths were in the last 10 years, most in Madhya Pradesh
 Conflict with FRA, 2006 - The Forest Rights Act passed by the Indian government in 2006 recognizes the rights of some forest-dwelling communities in forest areas.
 Lack of adequate protection in the outside tiger reserve. According to a report, nearly 29 per cent of tigers lives outside of the core zone
 Wildlife habitats are shrinking leading to more instances of human-animal conflict. From 2001 to 2016, 1,065 cases of human-tiger conflict were recorded including injuries and even fatalities on both sides.
 

Way Forward
 The tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem.
 There is a need for further community involvement through a tiger reserve that is not built with fences and armed patrol guards, but around a cultural model of conservation i.e. including local tribes like Idu Mishmi in Arunachal Pradesh, who consider Tigers as their elder brother and sacred.