Hyderabad: Tigers are a part of our planets’ natural heritage; they also have great cultural and historical significance. No doubt they are also crucial for the ecosystems in which they live. We can’t ignore the tigers as they not only protect the forest by maintaining ecological integrity but also they bring the highest levels of protection and investment to an area. Therefore, we call them as “umbrella species".
History of International Tiger Day; It was first celebrated in 2010 and was founded at an international summit that had been called in response to the shocking news that 97% of all the wild tigers have disappeared in the last century, with only around 3,000 left alive.
Tigers are on the brink of extinction and International World Tiger Day aims to bring attention to this fact and try to halt their decline. Many factors have caused their numbers to fall.
The goal of the International Tiger Day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.
India is a habitat of 75% of total tigers on the earth. The trend for the rising population of tigers in India is as follows:
- 2006 - 1411
- 2010 - 1706
- 2014 - 2226
- 2019 – 2967
According to the census, Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers that is 526 which is closely followed by Karnataka at 524 and Uttarakhand with 442 tigers remaining at number 3 position. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on International Tiger Day said that "The story that started with Ek Tha Tiger and then continued with Tiger Zinda Hai, should not stop there. It should be baaghon mein bahaar hai".There is a decline in the population of tiger in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram while tiger numbers in Odisha remained constant.
Tiger Population facts from the latest census report:
- The total population of Royal Bengal Tiger in India is 2,967.
- There are 4 States (M.P., Karnataka, Uttrakhand & Maharashtra) with more than 300 Tigers.
- There are 4 States (Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, U.P.) with more than 150 Tigers.
- Total 8 States with more than 100% Increase in Tiger Population as compared to 2006.
- Madhya Pradesh has become the Tiger State of India.
- Buxa, Dampa and Palamau Tiger Reserves do not have a single Tigers now.
- No Tigers were found in Mizoram state.
- Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh and Periyar National Park in Kerala are the top-rated Tiger Reserves in India.
Which state has the maximum number of Tiger Reserves in India?
