Tiger Reserves & Project Tiger
Forest & Wildlife · टाइगर रिजर्व और प्रोजेक्ट टाइगर · 18 facts
Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi; Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand was the first tiger reserve.
India has 53 tiger reserves (as of 2023) across 18 states; these cover over 75,000 sq km or about 2.3% of India's total geographical area.
Tiger Census 2022: India has 3167 tigers — 70% of the world's total wild tiger population; India achieved TX2 goal (doubling tigers since 2010).
State-wise highest tigers (2022 census): Karnataka 563, Uttarakhand 560, Madhya Pradesh 526, Maharashtra 444, Rajasthan 88.
NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority): Statutory body established in 2005 under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (as amended); oversees Project Tiger.
Global Tiger Day: July 29, celebrated annually since 2010 (St. Petersburg Tiger Summit); aims to promote tiger conservation.
TX2 Goal: World leaders pledged in 2010 to double tiger numbers by 2022; India was first to achieve this goal with 3167 tigers.
M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status): Mobile app-based monitoring system for tiger reserves.
Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH): Core/critical habitat within tiger reserves; no human activity permitted; buffer zone surrounds it.
Bandhavgarh (MP) has the highest tiger density in the world; Kanha (MP) has barasingha (swamp deer) reintroduced successfully.
Cheetah Reintroduction: Africa's cheetahs brought to Kuno National Park, MP in September 2022 (Project Cheetah); India had cheetahs till 1952.
Tiger reserve structure: Core zone (no human activity, absolute protection) surrounded by buffer zone (limited eco-tourism and research permitted).
India's 9 original Project Tiger reserves (1973): Jim Corbett, Kanha, Manas, Bandipur, Simlipal, Ranthambore, Corbett, Melghat, Palamau.
Tiger poaching: Tigers are killed for bones (traditional Chinese medicine), skin, claws; WCCB (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau) combats poaching.
Snow Leopard: Found in Himalayas; IUCN Vulnerable; Project Snow Leopard (India); estimated 400-700 in India.
Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserves: Both had tigers go locally extinct (Sariska 2004, Panna 2009); tigers successfully reintroduced from other reserves.
Tadoba (Maharashtra), Corbett (Uttarakhand), and Bandipur (Karnataka) are among India's most popular tiger tourism destinations.
India accounts for 70% of world's wild tigers; global tiger count is estimated at approximately 4500-5000 (IUCN 2023).