Project Tiger’s success in tiger conservation, Challenges, Big Cats Alliance

Explore Project Tiger's success in tiger conservation, its challenges like poaching and habitat loss, and strategies for improving big cat protection and biodiversity.

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Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment. It was launched in 1973 for in-situ conservation of wild tigers in designated tiger reserves.

  • The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has an overarching supervisory role, performing functions as provided under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

 

International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA): Protecting Tigers, Lions, Leopards, and Other Big Cats

  • Background: In 2019, PM Modi had called for an alliance of Global Leaders against poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Asi
  • Mega global alliance of 97 countries which will focus on protection and conservation of 7 major big cats of the world – tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, pumas, and jaguars.
  • Objective: To develop best practices and guidelines to prevent poaching and illegal wildlife trade. 
  • Assured Financial Support: 800 crore over five years.

 

India has merged two iconic wildlife initiatives, Project Tiger and Project Elephant, under the new ‘Project Tiger and Elephant Division.’ This amalgamation aims to streamline resources, but experts remain concerned about the lack of clarity in fund allocation. While some view the decision as administrative, others warn it could hinder conservation efforts for both species due to differing challenges and priorities. The move has sparked calls for greater transparency and a rollback of the merger.

 

Successes of Project Tiger: Increased Tiger Population, Biodiversity Protection

  • Increase in the population of tigers: increasing from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,167 in 2022 due to effective conservation & anti-poaching measures. 
  • For eg. 54 Tiger reserves established, and Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) set up for anti-poaching operations. 
    • Achievement of TX2 goal: India achieved the target of doubling tiger population by 2022, four years ahead of St. Petersburg Declaration’s target.
  • Protection of livelihood: Tiger reserves provide livelihood opportunities to people in the form of eco-tourism and ancillary activities. 
  • For eg, The economy of urban and semi urban areas like Sawai Madhopur, Ramnagar, etc. are dependent on tiger tourism.
  • Protection of Biodiversity: As Tigers are keystone species and are at the top of the food chain, protection of tiger through ‘project tiger’ has also protected the overall biodiversity and food-chain.
  • Innovative Use of technology: For eg. M-STrIPES (software-based monitoring system), E-Bird project (drone camera surveillance) etc.

TIGER

  • Conservation status: IUCN – Endangered, CITES – Appendix I, WPA, 1972 – Schedule I.
  • Population in India: 3167 (Tiger census, 2022)  Largest in the world (75% of total Tiger population). Highest in MP, followed by Karnataka.
  • Conservation programme in India: Project Tiger, 1973
  • Conservation programme at global level: Global Conservation Assured/Tiger Standards (CA/TS), St. Petersburg Declaration (TX2), Global Tiger Forum (GTF), Global Tiger Initiative (GTI).

 

Challenges Faced by Project Tiger: Poaching, Habitat Loss, Human-Wildlife Conflict

  • Poaching: Tigers are poached for their skins, bones, and other body parts by illegal hunters and traders.
  • NTCA reported that a total of 55 tigers were poached in India in 2023 itself.
  • Habitat Loss: Deforestation, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure fragment tigers’ habitats, reducing genetic diversity and fragmentation of populations.
  • According to the Wildlife Institute of India, tiger habitats in India have reduced by 45% between 2006 and 2021 due to infrastructure development.
  • Human-Wildlife Conflict & displacement of people: Increased human populations and forest encroachment cause conflict between humans and tigers, causing retaliation, injuries, and economic losses.
  • As per the report titled ‘India’s Tiger Reserves: Tribals Get Out, Tourists Welcome’, Project Tiger is set to displace a minimum of 5.5 lakh tribals and forest dwellers in India.
  • Funding and Infrastructure:
  • CAG highlighted the inadequate allocation of funds and delays in release of funds to tiger reserves.
  • Climate Change: Increases the risk of diseases and natural disasters 🡺affects tigers and their habitats (For eg. Gir national park and Babesiosis outbreak in Asiatic Lions).

 

WAY FORWARD

  • Strengthening anti-poaching measures: Improving surveillance and enforcement to prevent tiger poaching, deter illegal trade, while coordinating with agencies and countries to curb illegal trade in tiger parts and products 🡺For e.g.  Strengthen Cooperation with CITES and transboundary conservation with Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh etc.
  • Expanding and connecting habitats: Project Tiger needs to identify and secure more areas and create corridors that can facilitate their free movement and gene flow
  • Reducing human-wildlife conflict: Implementing measures to mitigate conflict between humans and tigers, including compensation, barriers, coexistence, and community engagement in conservation efforts.
  • Adapting to climate change: Monitoring impact of climate change climate on tigers and their habitats, develop adaptive management strategies, 🡺 For e.g., Promote low-carbon development and green practices to reduce emissions.

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