According to the most recent government data released on International Tiger Day (Sat, 29 Jul, 2023), the tiger population in India has risen from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, marking an annual increase of 6 percent. Union Minister of State for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, announced in Ramnagar that India now hosts around 75 percent of the global tiger population.
YV Jhala, former dean of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), noted that the increase in tiger numbers, particularly in states such as Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, is indicative of the healthy condition of tiger habitats. He attributed this growth to successful initiatives like incentivized schemes for relocating villagers from core areas and a decrease in poaching activities. However, he pointed out that northeastern states have not experienced a similar rise in tiger population, suggesting potential challenges in those regions.
In Madhya Pradesh, out of the total 785 tigers, 137 were spotted beyond the boundaries of the six reserves. Similarly, in Maharashtra, among the 444 tigers, around 80 were found roaming outside the six designated tiger habitats. In Karnataka, 136 tigers were sighted outside the five tiger reserves out of the total 563. Likewise, in Uttarakhand, where there are two reserves—Corbett and Rajaji National Park—73 tigers were observed outside these areas out of a total of 560.
According to a statement from the Global Tiger Forum, the global tiger population surged from 3,890 in 2016 to 5,575 in 2023, with significant contributions from India and Nepal, where the numbers doubled. However, there are slight discrepancies in the GTF counts compared to the overall global figure, affecting India's share as reported by the government.
Rajesh Gopal, the Secretary-General of GTF and former member secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, credited the rise in tiger numbers in India and neighboring countries to the principles of Project Tiger. This initiative focuses on safeguarding tigers in critical parts of their habitats known as "core-critical" areas.
The Union environment ministry has highlighted that around 35 percent of India's 53 tiger reserves urgently require strengthened protection measures, habitat restoration, and the replenishment of prey species, followed by potential tiger reintroduction efforts. Among these reserves, Corbett boasts the highest number of tigers at 260, followed by Bandipur, Nagarhole, Bandhavgarh, Dudhwa, Mudumalai, Kanha, Kaziranga, Sundarbans, Tadoba, Sathyamangalam, and Pench-MP, each with substantial tiger populations.
On the other hand, eighteen tiger reserves are facing a critical situation with fewer than ten tigers remaining. These reserves include Ranipur in Uttar Pradesh, Achanakmar, Indravati, and Udanti Sitanadi in Chhattisgarh, Palamau in Jharkhand, Bor and Sahyadri in Maharashtra, Satkosia in Odisha, Mukundara and Ramgarh Vishdhari in Rajasthan, Kawal in Telangana, Kalakad Mundanthurai in Tamil Nadu, Nameri in Assam, Dampa in Mizoram, Pakke, Kamlang, and Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh, and Buxa in West Bengal.The ministry has called for serious conservation efforts to aid in the recovery of the tiger population in these states.