News Analysis / Tiger census 2022
Published on: April 10, 2023
Context:
The tiger population numbers were made public by Prime Minister, at an event to mark the International Big Cat Alliance conference as well as the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.
Key Findings of Tiger Census, 2022:
Regional upgradation:
The tiger population has grown the most in the Shivalik hills and Gangetic flood plains, followed by central India, the northeastern hills, the Brahmaputra flood plains, and the Sundarbans.
There was a decline in the Western Ghats numbers.
Fourth Tiger Census 2018: (The last census)
International Big Cat Alliance conference (IBCA):
Tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah are the seven main big cats that IBCA will aim to protect and conserve.
97 "range" countries, which house these large cats' native habitat, as well as other interested countries, international organisations, etc., are able to join the alliance.
Aim:
To disseminate of information on benchmarked practises, capacity building, resources repository, research and development, awareness creation, etc., on the preservation and conservation of big cats.
Functions:
Advocacy, partnership, knowledge e-portal, capacity building, eco-tourism, partnerships amongst specialist groups, and fund tapping.
Need for Tiger Conservation:
Barometers of Ecological health: Tigers are indicators of the ecological wellness of planet Earth. Being the dominant predators of the ecosystem, they ensure that the numbers of herbivores like deer are kept balanced
Umbrella species: Tiger is an umbrella species whose conservation eventually leads to the conservation of many other species such as the ungulates, pollinators and other small animals.
Carbon storage value: Poaching or killing of large-bodied vertebrates such as tigers results in an increase of herbivore population, which in turn results in forests getting decimated
The decline in the tiger population: There is a tremendous decline in the tiger population as compared to the past 100 years and to prevent the deteriorating condition of tigers, it’s important to conserve them.
About Project Tiger:
Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in April 1973 by the Government of India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure.
Aim:
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):