In Tadoba, I had the opportunity to see three generations of tigers: Junabai, her cub Veera, and Veera’s cubs. It is a wonderful feeling of pride and joy to see these majestic creatures thriving in the wild. This quiet yet powerful resurgence is a testament to India’s years-old, science-based Project Tiger, which has borne remarkable results. It is a beautiful example of what the resilience of nature, powered by human intent, can achieve.India has seen around a 24% increase in its tiger population from 2018 to 2022 and is now home to 3,682 tigers. With this, India now hosts 75% of the world’s tiger population.
These numbers are impressive, and we owe this success to several prudent measures, including improved wildlife management, healthier prey bases, and more effective anti-poaching measures.
Also, the immense contribution of the foot soldiers of the forest department who work so selflessly and devotedly under the most perilous and arduous conditions, away from family and social life, cannot be overlooked. States like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have led the way, with significant increases in their tiger populations.
What has always been imperative in tiger conservation is reducing human-wildlife conflicts. Over the past few years, measures such as the incentivised relocation of villagers from core areas have greatly reduced these conflicts. While these numbers are encouraging, we cannot let our guard down just yet.
The central Indian landscape, a crucial tiger habitat, faces numerous ecological and social challenges. This region spans across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. Forests here not only support wildlife and indigenous populations but also hold valuable coal and mineral deposits. Development projects, including mining, road and railway construction, and reservoir building threaten the already fragmented landscape. If these development projects continue without appropriate measures, the central Indian Landscape could experience a significant decline in genetic diversity, estimated to be as high as 50%.
The Central India Tiger Corridor Project has shown some encouraging results. This critical corridor covers around 152,000 square km across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, and supports about 37% of India’s tiger population. The region includes 14 protected areas. Expanding these corridors and addressing bottlenecks through groundtruthing surveys and management plans can help preserve genetic diversity and promote healthy tiger populations.
Effective tiger conservation cannot occur without the support of local communities. We should continue our pursuit to empower communities to manage conflicts and participate in conservation efforts. This will be key to achieving sustainable coexistence between humans and tigers.
While poaching has declined, it remains a threat. The forest departments need to continue building their technical capacity. Sustained work towards deploying modern surveillance technologies and enforcing stricter laws against wildlife crimes might help keep poachers at bay.
Strong, science-based policies and effective governance are central to successful conservation, but we must continue to build on them. The tiger population depends on continued support from govt bodies, clear policy frameworks, and collaborative efforts between national and international conservation organisations.
Tigers have long been revered in Indian culture. A pastoralist tribe in Maharashtra, known as the Dhangar, venerates tigers as “Waghdev” or “Waghjai”, believing they protect their sheep. Waghoba, a primeval tiger, is considered the protector of the forest and has been worshipped by several tribal communities across India for ages. It is time we learn from these tribes and respect and protect these fierce creatures as our own family.
The future of India’s tigers hinges on our ability to maintain and enhance habitat connectivity, promote sustainable development, and encourage a harmonious coexistence between wildlife and human communities. This is a collective responsibility. Tigers are our pride. Let their glory never fade! (The writer is a former Indian cricket captain)
These numbers are impressive, and we owe this success to several prudent measures, including improved wildlife management, healthier prey bases, and more effective anti-poaching measures.
Also, the immense contribution of the foot soldiers of the forest department who work so selflessly and devotedly under the most perilous and arduous conditions, away from family and social life, cannot be overlooked. States like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have led the way, with significant increases in their tiger populations.
What has always been imperative in tiger conservation is reducing human-wildlife conflicts. Over the past few years, measures such as the incentivised relocation of villagers from core areas have greatly reduced these conflicts. While these numbers are encouraging, we cannot let our guard down just yet.
The central Indian landscape, a crucial tiger habitat, faces numerous ecological and social challenges. This region spans across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. Forests here not only support wildlife and indigenous populations but also hold valuable coal and mineral deposits. Development projects, including mining, road and railway construction, and reservoir building threaten the already fragmented landscape. If these development projects continue without appropriate measures, the central Indian Landscape could experience a significant decline in genetic diversity, estimated to be as high as 50%.
The Central India Tiger Corridor Project has shown some encouraging results. This critical corridor covers around 152,000 square km across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, and supports about 37% of India’s tiger population. The region includes 14 protected areas. Expanding these corridors and addressing bottlenecks through groundtruthing surveys and management plans can help preserve genetic diversity and promote healthy tiger populations.
Effective tiger conservation cannot occur without the support of local communities. We should continue our pursuit to empower communities to manage conflicts and participate in conservation efforts. This will be key to achieving sustainable coexistence between humans and tigers.
While poaching has declined, it remains a threat. The forest departments need to continue building their technical capacity. Sustained work towards deploying modern surveillance technologies and enforcing stricter laws against wildlife crimes might help keep poachers at bay.
Strong, science-based policies and effective governance are central to successful conservation, but we must continue to build on them. The tiger population depends on continued support from govt bodies, clear policy frameworks, and collaborative efforts between national and international conservation organisations.
Tigers have long been revered in Indian culture. A pastoralist tribe in Maharashtra, known as the Dhangar, venerates tigers as “Waghdev” or “Waghjai”, believing they protect their sheep. Waghoba, a primeval tiger, is considered the protector of the forest and has been worshipped by several tribal communities across India for ages. It is time we learn from these tribes and respect and protect these fierce creatures as our own family.
The future of India’s tigers hinges on our ability to maintain and enhance habitat connectivity, promote sustainable development, and encourage a harmonious coexistence between wildlife and human communities. This is a collective responsibility. Tigers are our pride. Let their glory never fade! (The writer is a former Indian cricket captain)
Source Agencies
