India’s Tiger Conservation Achievements

International Tiger Day is observed annually on 29 July to raise global awareness about tiger conservation and the protection of their habitats.

• The observance traces its origin to the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit (November 2010), where leaders of 13 tiger-range countries, including India, adopted the Tx2 Goal to double the global wild tiger population by 2022.
• For India, the day reaffirms the Government’s commitment to science-based conservation, ecological sustainability and biodiversity protection.

India’s Tiger Conservation Achievements

• India is home to the world’s largest wild tiger population, accounting for nearly 70% of the global wild tiger population.
• This achievement reflects decades of policy support, scientific management, habitat protection and community participation.
• India’s success has positioned it as a global leader in tiger conservation.

Cultural Significance of the Tiger

• The tiger has long been a symbol of strength, courage and sovereignty in Indian civilisation.
• Ancient coins, royal seals and temple carvings depict the tiger as an important cultural symbol.
• In 1972, the Government of India declared the Royal Bengal Tiger as the National Animal.
• Today, the tiger represents India’s rich biodiversity and natural heritage.

Project Tiger

• Project Tiger is the flagship Centrally Sponsored Scheme for tiger conservation.
• It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Report, 2023:
  • India has 58 Tiger Reserves.
  • The reserves are spread across 18 tiger-range States.
  • They cover approximately 84,500 sq. km, representing about 2.56% of India’s geographical area.

Technology in Tiger Conservation

• India has integrated advanced digital technologies into tiger monitoring and protection.
• The Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-STrIPES) uses GPS, GPRS, Remote sensing technologies for field-based monitoring and habitat management.
• M-STrIPES integrates field observations into a centralised database for scientific analysis and informed decision-making.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tools further strengthen monitoring:
  • Camera Trap Data Repository and Analysis Tool (CaTRAT) automatically classifies camera trap images by species.
  • ExtractCompare identifies individual tigers through their unique stripe patterns.
• These technologies improve the accuracy and reliability of tiger population estimation.

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a global coalition of 95 big-cat range countries, partner countries, scientific organisations and conservation agencies.
• The Alliance promotes cooperation for conserving seven big cat species Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma.
• The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the IBCA on 12 March 2024.
• The IBCA Secretariat is headquartered in India.
• The Alliance builds on India’s experience in tiger conservation to strengthen global collaboration for big cat conservation.

Global Tiger Forum (GTF)

• The Global Tiger Forum (GTF) is the world’s only intergovernmental organisation dedicated exclusively to tiger conservation.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.
• The Forum brings together 13 tiger-range countries to promote international cooperation in tiger conservation.

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