The world is observing the International Tigers Day today with an aim to increase awareness about the conservation of tiger. The International Tigers Day also known as Global Tigers Day promotes the protection of natural habitat of tigers. Tigers are listed as endangered species and the 20th century saw a major decline in the tiger population across the globe. Let us know more facts about the International Tigers Day.
Tiger has been listed as an endangered species since 1986.
The world has seen a loss of over 95 percent of the world’s wild tiger population since then.
The reasons for the decline in tiger population majorly include poaching, illegal trade, habitat loss, climate changes and diseases.
India is home to 70 percent of the world’s big cats.
They are found in forests, mangrove swamps and Himalayan foothills.
According to the fresh census report ‘Status of Tigers in India-2018’ the number of tigers in India is 2,967 which is up from 2,226 of the 2014 census. This survey is conducted once in four years.
According to the report Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers at 526, followed by Karnataka 524 and Uttarakhand at 442.
While Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of tigers, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu registered the maximum improvement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he released the All India Tiger Estimation, said India, with around 3,000 tigers, is one of safest habitats for the tigers in world.
In five years, the tiger protected areas have increased from 692 to over 860, community reserves from 43 to over 100.
According to the 2014 census the total number of big cats in the country was at 2,226. The 2010 census figure is at 1,706 and in 2006 it was 1,411 indicating the tiger numbers have sprung up.
As part of tiger protection initiatives, in 2010 Global Tiger Recovery Programme was established with the aim of doubling the global tiger population by 2022.
The Global Tiger Recovery Program seeks to empower Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) to address threats, and crisis haunting the tiger survival.
Project Tiger was initiated on 1st April 1973, and is still an important movement aimed at the conservation of tiger in India.
Many conservation areas have been created to make sure that no human could enter the area and do any harm to the tiger or its habitat.
There are 50 tiger reserves in India which are governed by Project Tiger and administrated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Beginning from a total of 9 reserves in 1973-74 the number has grown to fifty now.