Bathery: Global Tiger Day often called the International Tiger Day is celebrated on 29 July every year since 2010 to raise awareness about the importance of conserving this rare species of fauna which is almost on the verge of extinction.
The Western Ghats have been one of the most original habitats of the tiger and this unique eco system plays a significant role in contributing to the international initiatives to protect the species. In fact, the Western Ghats zone holds the world’s single largest tiger population. The Wayanad wild life sanctuary, the Bandipur national park in Karanataka, Nagarhole national park and Muthumalai Tiger Reserve which are included in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats is one of the biggest Tiger Reserves in the world. It is in this unique landscape spread across three states that the territorial ratio of one tiger per 30 – 35 square kilometers underwent a drastic change which prompted the government to initiate projects to protect the tiger species along with the wild elephants.
The tiger population
As per the official survey conducted in 2015, there are 84 tigers in Wayanad alone and this obviously is an impressive ratio as far as the tiger population is considered. There are 75 tigers in the Wayanad wild life sanctuary and the remaining 9 lives in the north and south forest areas. The estimated tiger population in India is 2226 tigers. There are reportedly around 4000 tigers around the globe at various national parks, tiger reserves and bio reserves and forest areas. Besides, there are tigers that are tamed and live with human beings outside the forests as pets.
In India, Karnataka has 406 tigers, the highest tiger population in the country, while Kerala has 136 tigers. There are less than 40 tigers in Parambikulam and Periyar. The results of the tiger survey conducted in 2018 are not yet out and the tiger population is expected to go up. In a worldwide survey, 2226 tigers were found in the various forests across India. Meanwhile there are only 433 tigers in Russia which has the second highest tiger population in world, and 371 tigers in Indonesia which comes third.
Project Tiger 1973
Project Tiger, a tiger conservation program was launched in 1973 by the government of India to protect the tiger population from extinction. By the end of the 1990’s, the number of Bengal tigers dropped alarmingly from 10,000 to just 1500. Later, as a result of the inception of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the various projects conceived by them, the tiger population went up to 3500. It must also be noted that no sightings of tigers have been recorded at the Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand in 2018 which had 50 tigers in 1973. This tiger reserve, however, had 3 tigers in 2017.
At the zoo
As per the instructions of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, a captured tiger should be released into the same forest area within 3 days. However, the tigers captured at Wayanad are often transferred to the zoo owing to the unique geographical features of the district. An incident in 2012 when a tiger was shot and killed had captured nationwide attention. The presence of deer and wild bison in the forests of Wayanad acts as a positive factor for the propagation of the tiger population here. The population of the big cats is estimated using camera traps. The NTCA aims to double the population of tigers in India and has initiated many programs, projects and awareness campaigns in this regard.
