India’s Tiger Conservation Success: From Crisis to Global Leadership

 

 

1. India is home to nearly 70% of the world’s wild tiger population, making it the global leader in tiger conservation.

2. International Tiger Day is observed annually on 29 July to promote tiger conservation and global awareness.

3. The Royal Bengal Tiger was declared India’s National Animal in 1972, symbolising the country’s biodiversity and ecological heritage.

4. The Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit (2010) launched the Tx2 goal to double the global wild tiger population by 2022.

5. According to the All India Tiger Estimation (2022), India’s tiger population stands at 3,682, more than double the scientifically assessed population recorded in 2006.

6. The All India Tiger Estimation 2022 surveyed over 6.41 lakh kilometres across 20 States, making it one of the world’s largest wildlife monitoring exercises.

7. Project Tiger, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), aims to secure viable tiger populations in their natural habitats.

8. As per the NTCA Report (2023), India has 58 tiger reserves spread across 18 tiger-range States, covering about 84,500 sq km or 2.56% of the country’s geographical area.

9. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 mandates every State Government to prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan for each tiger reserve under Section 38V(3).

10. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) oversees Project Tiger, approves Tiger Conservation Plans, and provides scientific, technical, and financial support to tiger-range States.

11. The 2006 amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act established the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) as statutory bodies.

12. The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE), conducted every four years by NTCA and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), is recognised as the world’s largest biodiversity survey.

13. India uses advanced technologies such as M-STrIPES, CaTRAT, Artificial Intelligence, GPS, remote sensing, and ExtractCompare for scientific tiger monitoring and population estimation.

14. The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), approved by the Union Cabinet on 12 March 2024, is headquartered in India and promotes conservation of seven big cat species across 95 partner countries.

15. The Global Tiger Forum (GTF), headquartered in New Delhi, is the world’s only intergovernmental organisation exclusively dedicated to tiger conservation and includes all 13 tiger-range countries.

 

Must Know Terms :

1.Project Tiger: Launched in 1973, Project Tiger is the Government of India’s flagship Centrally Sponsored Scheme for tiger conservation. Implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), it provides financial and technical support to States for habitat protection, scientific management, and tiger population recovery. As of 2023, it covers 58 tiger reserves across 18 States.

 

2. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Established as a statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 through the 2006 amendment, NTCA oversees the implementation of Project Tiger. It approves Tiger Conservation Plans, monitors tiger reserves, issues conservation guidelines, and coordinates scientific management of tiger habitats across India.

 

3. All India Tiger Estimation (AITE): Conducted every four years by the NTCA in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), AITE is the world’s largest biodiversity survey. It estimates tiger populations, prey density, co-predators, and habitat quality using camera traps, field surveys, and scientific analysis. The 2022 estimation recorded 3,682 tigers in India.

 

4. M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status): M-STrIPES is a digital monitoring system that uses GPS, GPRS, remote sensing, and GIS technologies to track patrolling activities, wildlife observations, and habitat conditions. It improves real-time monitoring, data accuracy, and evidence-based management of tiger reserves.

 

5. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA): Approved by the Union Cabinet on 12 March 2024, the IBCA is a global coalition headquartered in India. It promotes international cooperation for the conservation of seven big cat species—Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma—through research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.

 

6. Global Tiger Forum (GTF): Established in 1994 and headquartered in New Delhi, the Global Tiger Forum is the world’s only intergovernmental organization exclusively dedicated to tiger conservation. It brings together all 13 tiger-range countries to promote transboundary conservation, policy coordination, scientific research, and protection of tiger habitats.

 

MCQ :

1. With reference to tiger conservation in India, consider the following statements:

1. India is home to nearly 70% of the world’s wild tiger population.
2. International Tiger Day is observed annually on 29 July.
3. The Royal Bengal Tiger was declared India’s National Animal in 1972.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

2. The Tx2 goal, frequently seen in tiger conservation, was adopted during:

(a) Rio Earth Summit, 1992
(b) Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit, 2010
(c) Convention on Biological Diversity, 1993
(d) COP21 Paris Conference, 2015

3. According to the All India Tiger Estimation (2022), India’s tiger population is:

(a) 2,967
(b) 3,167
(c) 3,682
(d) 4,102

4. Which of the following statements regarding Project Tiger are correct?

1. It was launched in 1973.
2. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
3. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

5. As per the NTCA Report (2023), India has:

(a) 52 Tiger Reserves across 16 States
(b) 58 Tiger Reserves across 18 States
(c) 60 Tiger Reserves across 20 States
(d) 55 Tiger Reserves across 17 States

6. Section 38V(3) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 deals with:

(a) Establishment of National Parks
(b) Constitution of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
(c) Preparation of Tiger Conservation Plans for every Tiger Reserve
(d) Declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones

7. Which of the following statements regarding the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) are correct?

1. It oversees the implementation of Project Tiger.
2. It approves Tiger Conservation Plans.
3. It provides scientific and financial assistance to tiger-range States.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

8. Assertion (A): The 2006 amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act strengthened tiger conservation in India.

Reason (R): The amendment established the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

9. The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) is conducted:

(a) Every two years
(b) Every three years
(c) Every four years
(d) Every five years

10. The All India Tiger Estimation is conducted jointly by:

(a) NTCA and Zoological Survey of India
(b) NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India
(c) MoEFCC and Botanical Survey of India
(d) Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Forest Survey of India

11. Which of the following technologies are used for tiger monitoring in India?

1. M-STrIPES
2. CaTRAT
3. Artificial Intelligence
4. GPS and Remote Sensing

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

12. The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) promotes conservation of which of the following?

1. Tiger
2. Lion
3. Jaguar
4. Puma

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

13. The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was approved by the Union Cabinet in:

(a) 2022
(b) 2023
(c) 2024
(d) 2025

14. Which of the following statements regarding the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) are correct?

1. It is headquartered in New Delhi.
2. It is the world’s only intergovernmental organisation dedicated exclusively to tiger conservation.
3. It brings together all 13 tiger-range countries.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

15. Which of the following institutions/programmes are directly associated with tiger conservation in India?

1. Project Tiger
2. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
3. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
4. All India Tiger Estimation (AITE)

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4