Project Tiger 

Project Tiger: 

Project Tiger stands as one of India’s most ambitious and globally recognized wildlife conservation initiatives. Launched on April 1, 1973, this centrally sponsored scheme administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has transformed the trajectory of tiger conservation in the nation. What began as an urgent response to the catastrophic decline of the tiger population has evolved into a comprehensive model of large predator conservation, recognized worldwide for its ecological significance and pioneering conservation strategies.

Historical Context and Launch

Before the launch of Project Tiger, India faced a wildlife crisis of unprecedented magnitude. The 1972 census revealed that India’s wild tiger population had plummeted to just under 1,800 individuals, a stark decline from the approximately 40,000 tigers that roamed Indian forests in 1900. This alarming situation necessitated immediate governmental intervention. The project was launched at Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand with 9 tiger reserves spanning 18,278 km². Today, the project covers 58 tiger reserves across 75,796+ km² (approximately 2.3% of India’s land area).

Project Tiger: Objectives and Goals

The primary objectives of Project Tiger encompass:

1. Species Protection: Ensuring the long-term survival of the tiger (Panthera tigris) as a wild animal in India

2. Habitat Conservation: Protecting and preserving the natural habitats of tigers and associated wildlife

3. Biodiversity Preservation: Maintaining ecological balance by conserving the prey base and predator-prey relationships

4. Ecological Restoration: Restoring degraded tiger habitats through scientific management

5. Community Co-existence: Balancing tiger conservation with the livelihood interests of local communities

6. Research and Monitoring: Conducting continuous research on tiger populations and ecological parameters

Current Status and Population Trends

Tiger Population Growth:

• 1972: < 1,800 tigers

• 2006: 1,411 tigers

• 2014: 2,226 tigers

• 2018: 2,967 tigers

• 2022: 3,682 tigers (range: 3,167-3,925)

• Annual Growth Rate: 6.1%

• Global Significance: India now hosts approximately 75% of the world’s wild tiger population

Core-Buffer Strategy: The Foundation of Tiger Reserve Management

The core-buffer strategy represents the cornerstone of tiger reserve management, consisting of:

Core Zone (Inviolate Core Area):

• Designated as national park or wildlife sanctuary under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

• Strictly protected from human habitation, livestock grazing, and resource extraction

• No collection of forest produce; access restricted to research and management

• Intensive anti-poaching operations and habitat restoration

Buffer Zone (Peripheral Area):

• Surrounds the core zone as transition between protected area and human-dominated landscapes

• Allows limited human activities under prescribed guidelines

• Provides supplementary habitat for tiger dispersal and genetic exchange

• Managed with community participation and eco-development programs

• Permits sustainable forestry, regulated grazing, NTFP collection, eco-tourism

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Institutional Framework

The NTCA was established under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 as a statutory body with comprehensive powers:

Key Functions:

• Approval of tiger conservation plans from state governments

• Evaluation and prevention of ecologically unsustainable land use (mining, industry)

• Formulation of normative standards for tourism and conservation activities

• Monitoring tiger population estimation and prey species management

• Coordination of anti-poaching operations and research activities

• Implementation of special tiger protection force

• Development of monitoring technologies (wireless systems, thermal cameras, databases)

• Management of human-wildlife conflict and livelihood support

• Annual reporting to Parliament

Tiger Census Methodology and Population Monitoring

Evolution of Census Methods:

Traditional Method – Pugmark Census:

• Used until 2002; relied on tiger footprint tracking

• Highly unreliable; scientifically invalidated

Modern Methods (Current):

Camera Trap Technology:

• Non-invasive photo-identification using motion-triggered cameras

• Individual tiger recognition based on unique stripe patterns

• Capture-recapture statistical modeling for population estimation

• Behavioral monitoring and movement tracking

Scat DNA Analysis:

• Collection of tiger feces from reserves

• DNA extraction and microsatellite analysis

• Genetic diversity and population structure assessment

• Disease surveillance potential

Census Frequency: Every 4 years (last: 2022; next: 2026)

Tiger Reserves: Geographic Distribution (58 Total)

States with Most Reserves:

1. Madhya Pradesh: 9 reserves (highest tiger population: 785 in 2022)

2. Maharashtra: 6 reserves

3. Karnataka: 6 reserves

4. Assam: 4 reserves

5. Chhattisgarh: 4 reserves

Largest Tiger Reserves:

1. Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana): ~3,296 sq km (or up to 3,728 sq km depending on source) – The largest in India.
2. Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam): ~3,150 sq km (or 2,837 sq km) – Known for its rich biodiversity in the Himalayan foothills.
3. Melghat Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra): ~2,768 sq km – Located in the Satpura range.
4. Simlipal Tiger Reserve (Odisha): ~2,750 sq km – Home to unique ecosystems 
5. Amrabad Tiger Reserve (Telangana): ~2,611 sq km – Part of the large Nallamala Hills forest. 

Recent Additions:

• 2023: Veerangana Durgavati (MP), Dholpur-Karauli (Rajasthan)

• 2024: Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla (Chhattisgarh), Ratapani (MP)

Tiger Corridors and Habitat Connectivity

Tiger corridors represent critical linkages enabling:

• Genetic Exchange: Maintaining diversity and preventing inbreeding

• Population Dispersal: Young tigers finding territories and mates

• Meta-population Dynamics: Creating interconnected population networks

Major Corridors:

• Terai Arc Landscape: India-Nepal (Corbett, Rajaji, Dudhwa reserves)

• Central Indian Corridor: MP-Chhattisgarh (Kanha-Bandhavgarh-Pench)

• Western Ghats Corridor: Kerala-Tamil Nadu-Karnataka

• Sundarbans Transboundary: India-Bangladesh shared populations

Challenges to Tiger Conservation

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:

• ~18,000 sq km habitat lost (2006-2018)

• Local extinctions: Sri Venkateswara, Kawal, Satkosia, Sahyadri reserves

• Linear infrastructure cutting through corridors

• Mining and agricultural expansion

Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade:

• Tiger body parts demand (bones, teeth, fur)

• Traditional medicine markets

• Organized crime networks

Human-Wildlife Conflict:

• ~30% tigers live outside protected areas

• Livestock predation and human casualties

• Retaliatory killings

• Inadequate compensation mechanisms

Carrying Capacity Issues:

• Expert estimates: upto 5,000 under current habitat conditions (depending on habitat quality)

• Current population approaching conservative estimates

• Uneven distribution: 20 reserves hold 1/3 of area

Climate Change Impacts:

• Altered prey availability and habitat quality

• Water scarcity in reserves

• Increased human-tiger conflicts

Development Pressures:

• Coal mining and extraction approvals

• Hydroelectric projects in sensitive areas

• Road and railway infrastructure fragmentation

• Inadequate environmental safeguards

Socioeconomic Conflicts:

• Tension between Forest Rights Act (2006) and Wildlife Protection Act (1972)

• Limited community participation

• Insufficient livelihood alternatives

• Inadequate wildlife loss compensation

Government Initiatives and Policy Framework

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Amended 2006):

• Statutory status for NTCA

• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau establishment

• Critical Tiger Habitat concept

• Enhanced penalties for poaching

• Legal habitat protection mechanisms

Project Tiger & Elephant Merger (2023-2024):

• Integrated conservation planning for sympatric species

• Efficient resource utilization

• Coordinated anti-poaching operations

Scheduled Tribes and Forest Rights Act, 2006:

• Recognition of tribal forest resource rights

• Balance between conservation and livelihood

• Community forest resource management

Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs):

• Buffer zones around protected areas (10 km periphery)

• Prohibition on industrial development and mining

• Environmental impact mitigation

International Cooperation:

• India-Nepal: Terai Arc Landscape cooperation

• India-Bangladesh: Sundarbans transnational conservation

• India-Bhutan: Manas Tiger Reserve cooperative management

• Global Tiger Forum participation

Previous Year UPSC Mains Questions and Suggested Answers

Q1: “How has Project Tiger contributed to saving the big cat population in India? Discuss. Also enumerate the challenges faced by the project.”

Q2: “How are tiger reserves notified? Discuss the significance of forming a new tiger reserve in the context of India’s tiger conservation efforts.”

Q3: “Project Tiger though successful has its share of structural flaws. Discuss with examples.”

Q4: “Discuss the role of technology in monitoring tiger populations and anti-poaching operations. What are limitations?”

ENVIRONMENT