According to a new study published this week, India has doubled its tiger population in about a decade by protecting the species from dangers such as poaching and habitat loss.
According to a new study published in the journal Science this week, India has doubled its tiger population in the span of a decade by implementing protection efforts to shield the species from dangers such as habitat loss and poaching.
Conservationists have also made sure that the tigers have an ample amount of prey, according to the study, as well as reduced human-wildlife conflict, and increased the living standards of communities near tiger populated areas.
According to estimates from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, as reported by NPR, there were an estimated 1,706 tigers in 2010, and as of 2022 the population has increased to 3,682. With this increase, India has also become the home to about 75% of the world’s tiger population.
“The common belief is that human densities preclude an increase in tiger populations,” said Yadvendradev Jhala, the study’s lead author.
“What the research shows is that it’s not the human density, but the attitude of people, which matters more.”
The study stated that India’s success in this population increase “offers important lessons for tiger-range countries,” and shows that conservation efforts can benefit endangered species.
Wildlife conservationists and ecologists are excited about the study and the hopefulness that comes from these efforts, however, they’re also hoping that more specific source data is made available to scientists so they can utilize it for other conservation efforts around the world. The study was mainly based on data collected by Indian government-supported institutions.
Arjun Gopalaswamy, an ecologist with expertise in wildlife population estimation, said: “estimates from India’s official tiger monitoring program have been chaotic and contradictory,” according to NPR.
Jhala said that proper legislation is essential for protecting tigers and endangered species in general.
“Strong wildlife protection legislation is the backbone of tiger conservation in India. Habitat is not a constraint, it’s the quality of the habitat which is a constraint.”
Gopalaswamy said some of the studies results are quite higher than previous estimates, but the findings in the paper seem to have corrected an anomaly that was previously flagged by scientists within the past decade.
Tigers seemingly disappeared in non-protected areas such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. They also disappeared from areas that experienced urbanization and increased use of forest resources from humans.
“Without community support and participation and community benefits, conservation is not possible in our country,” said Jhala.
Tigers are located throughout 53,359 square miles in India. Wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam said that “while tiger conservation efforts are promising, they need to be extended to other species to better maintain the entire ecosystem.”
“There are several species, including the great Indian bustard and caracal which are all on the edge, and there is really not enough focus on that,” Chellam said.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
