Tiger census report titled ‘Status of Tigers in India-2018’ has been made public on July 29, the International Tiger Day and going by the statistics that has been contained in it, there is much to cheer about. There has been an increase of 33 % over the last census figure and almost all states barring a few have witnessed a positive increase of tiger population. This achievement comes as a ray of hope since there was a time only a decade and a half ago, when the population of this exquisitely gracious big cat in the country dwindled to such an all- time low that the belief of its total extinction was gradually getting reinforced. Although this is an encouraging recovery no doubt, the path ahead will be no less challenging if India is to keep its commitment of contributing to the doubling of global tiger population by 2022, as per the 2010 St. Petersburg Tiger Summit protocol.
The census which was carried over 15 months during 2018-19 consuming 5,93,882 man days is the world’s most extensive biodiversity mapping exercise involving a survey of a total of 3,81,400 sq km of forests, of which 5,22,996 km was on foot with 26,838 camera trap locations covering 1,21,337 sq km. To make sure that no tiger is left out of the census coverage, as many as nearly 3.5 crore wildlife pictures were captured, of which 76,651 turned out to be of tigers. Actually the alarm bell was ringing for quite a long time and it wasn’t until the first census of 2006 which revealed that the tiger population was at its lowest ebb of 1,411, the true gravity of the situation was realised. But thankfully there has been a steady rise since then with 1,706 in 2010 and 2,226 in 2014. As per the report, the total count has now risen to 2,967 from the immediate last figure which is an increase of 741 tigers, the biggest so far both in number and percentage due to improved conservation measures and new methods of making better estimates. Conservation of this wild cat is of vital importance since it sits at the peak of the food chain and makes enormous contribution for the well-being and sustenance of forest ecosystem. But rapid destruction of the forests which is its principal habitat coupled with widespread poaching has contributed to this sharp fall.
Interestingly, the report has included the Northeast figures which was not possible due to logistic constraints before, with Arunachal standing at 29, also highlighting the need for immediate conservation attention for the entire region.
Actually, there must be concerted efforts by all states. It will be only then the roar will get louder.