Editing Project Tiger

{{Short description|Tiger conservation programme in India (1973-present)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox government agency
|type= Tiger conservation programme
|logo= Project Tiger banner logo.jpg
|logo_caption= Banner logo of Project Tiger
|formed= 1 April 1973
|motto= India Leads Tiger Conservation
|parent_department = [[National Tiger Conservation Authority]]
|website= https://ntca.gov.in/
}}
'''Project Tiger''' is a [[wildlife conservation]] movement initiated in [[India]] to protect the [[endangered species|endangered]] [[tiger]]. The project was initiated in 1973 by the [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]] of the [[Government of India]]. As of March 2025, there are 58 protected areas that have been designated as [[Tiger reserves of India|tiger reserves]] under the project. As of 2023, there were 3,682 wild tigers in India, which is almost 75% of the world's wild tiger population.

== History and objectives ==
{{Wildlife of India}}
Project Tiger was initiated in 1973 by the [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]] of the [[Government of India]]. The project was initiated to protect the [[Bengal Tiger]] and its habitats and to establish dedicated [[Tiger reserves of India|tiger reserves]] for sustaining tiger populations.<ref name="PT">{{cite web|title=Project Tiger|publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority|url=https://ntca.gov.in/about-us/#project-tiger|access-date=1 April 2024|archive-date=5 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405081950/https://ntca.gov.in/about-us/#project-tiger|url-status=live}}</ref> As per the section 38 of the [[Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972]], the state governments are responsible for preparing a Tiger Conservation Plan which includes planning and management of notified areas and maintaining the requisite competent staff to ensure the protection of the tiger reserve and providing inputs for maintaining a viable population of tigers, co-predators and prey animals.<ref name="Reserve">{{cite report |title=Tiger reserves |publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority |url=https://ntca.gov.in/tiger-reserves/#tiger-reserves-2 |access-date=1 April 2024 |archive-date=18 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318135018/https://ntca.gov.in/tiger-reserves/#tiger-reserves-2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="guidelines">{{cite web |url=http://projecttiger.nic.in/COMPENDIUM%20OF%20GUIDELINES.pdf |title=Project Tiger |publisher=Government of India |access-date=22 January 2016 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002055640/http://projecttiger.nic.in/COMPENDIUM%20OF%20GUIDELINES.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Tiger reserves consist of a core area which includes part(s) of protected areas such as a [[national park]] or a [[wildlife sanctuary]] and a buffer zone which is a mix of forested and non-forested land. Project tiger is aimed at performing the necessary activities to ensure viability of tiger population in the core area and to promote a balance between the existence of people and animals in the buffer zones.<ref name="PT"/> In 2006, [[National Tiger Conservation Authority]] was formed to administer the tiger reserves which were set up as a part of Project Tiger with Project Tiger becoming a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) to provide funding for the establishment and administration of the tiger reserves.<ref name="PT"/>

In 1973, nine protected areas were initially designated as tiger reserves. By the late 1980s, the initial nine reserves covering an area of {{cvt|9115|km2}} had been increased to 15 reserves covering an area of {{cvt|24700|km2}}.<ref>{{cite book |author=Panwar, H. S. |year=1987 |chapter=Project Tiger: The reserves, the tigers, and their future |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YdC-wfyZwZEC&pg=PA110 |pages=110–117 |title=Tigers of the world: the biology, biopolitics, management, and conservation of an endangered species |editor1-last=Tilson, R. L. |editor2-last=Sel, U. S. |publisher=Minnesota Zoological Garden, IUCN/SSC Captive Breeding Group, IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group |location=Park Ridge, N.J. |isbn=978-0-815-51133-5 |access-date=19 November 2020 |archive-date=31 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331152818/https://books.google.com/books?id=YdC-wfyZwZEC&pg=PA110 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 1997, 23 tiger reserves encompassed an area of {{cvt|33000|km2}}.<ref>{{cite book |editor1=Seidensticker, J. |editor2=Christie, S. |editor3=Jackson, P. |year=1999 |title=Riding the Tiger. Tiger Conservation in human-dominated landscapes |publisher=Cambridge University Press |place=Cambridge |isbn=0-521-64057-1 |author=Thapar, V. |chapter=The tragedy of the Indian tiger: starting from scratch |pages=296–306}}</ref> As of December 2024, there are 57 [[protected area]]s that have been designated as tiger reserves.<ref name="Reserve"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ratapani-mp-tiger-reserve-protected-areas-9708543/|title=With Ratapani in MP declared India’s latest tiger reserve, all about the protected areas|date=5 December 2024|access-date=1 January 2025|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|quote=On December 2, India got its 57th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary...}}</ref>

==Tiger population==
[[File:State_wise_Bengal_Tiger_Population_India,_2019.jpg|thumb|State wise tiger population (2018)]]

During the tiger census of 2006, a new methodology was used extrapolating site-specific densities of tigers, their co-predators and prey derived from [[camera trap]] and sign surveys using [[GIS]]. Based on the result of these surveys, the total tiger population was estimated at 1,411 individuals ranging from 1,165 to 1,657 adult and sub-adult tigers of more than 1.5 years of age.<ref>{{cite book |title=Status of the Tigers, Co-predators, and Prey in India |author=Jhala, Y. V. |author-link=Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala |author2=Gopal, R. |author3=Qureshi, Q. |name-list-style=amp |publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, New Delhi; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun |year=2008 |series=TR 08/001 |url=http://projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/status_of_tigers_in_india_2008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602124630/http://projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/status_of_tigers_in_india_2008.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49148174|title=India's tiger population sees 33% increase|publisher=BBC|date=2019|access-date=11 April 2024|archive-date=1 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801021152/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49148174|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2010 National Tiger Assessment estimated the total population of wild tigers in India at 1,706. As per [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Ministry of Environment and Forests]], the wild tiger population in India stood at 2,226 in 2014 with an increase of 30.5% since the 2010 estimate.<ref name=NTA>{{cite web|url=http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/tiger-brochure.pdf|title=Tiger Estimate in India|work=Public Information Brochure|page=9|publisher=Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India|date=28 March 2011|access-date=21 June 2011|archive-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612082807/http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/tiger-brochure.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In 2018, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, there were an estimated 2,603–3,346 wild tigers with an average of 2,967 in existence in India.<ref>{{cite report |author=Jhala, Y. V. |author2=Qureshi, Q. |author3=Nayak, A. K. |name-list-style=amp |year=2020 |title=Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2018 |publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority, Government of India, Wildlife Institute of India |location=New Delhi, Dehradun |url=http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Tiger-Status-Report-2018_For-Web_compressed_compressed.pdf |access-date=17 September 2021 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028125314/http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Tiger-Status-Report-2018_For-Web_compressed_compressed.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The wild tiger population increased to 3,682 as of 2022.<ref name="Report">{{cite report |author1=Qureshi, Q. |author2=Jhala, Y. V. |author3=Yadav, S. P. |author4=Mallick, A. |name-list-style=amp |year=2023 |title=Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2022 |publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority & Wildlife Institute of India |location=New Delhi, Dehradun |url=https://wii.gov.in/images//images/documents/publications/statu_tiger_copredators-2022.pdf |access-date=11 April 2024 |archive-date=5 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505145403/https://wii.gov.in/images//images/documents/publications/statu_tiger_copredators-2022.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> As India is home to majority of the global wild tiger population, the increase in population of [[tigers in India]] played a major role in driving up global populations as well; the number of wild tigers globally rose from 3,159 in 2010 to 3,890 in 2016 according to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|World Wide Fund]] and Global Tiger Forum.<ref name="Global">{{Cite web |url=http://tigers.panda.org/news/what-the-new-global-tiger-number-means/ |title=2967 – What the new global Tiger number means |publisher=WWF |date=2016 |access-date=11 April 2024 |archive-date=27 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927044921/http://tigers.panda.org/news/what-the-new-global-tiger-number-means/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Management and administration ==
[[File:Tiger Yawning Mudumalai Mar21 DSC01305.jpg|thumb|A [[Bengal tiger]] in [[Mudumalai National Park|Mudumalai tiger reserve]]]]
Project Tiger is headed by an additional director general (ADG) based at [[New Delhi]] with regional offices at [[Bangalore]], [[Guwahati]] and [[Nagpur]].<ref name="PT"/> The wildlife habitats that fall under Project Tiger are categorized into different conservation units: [[Siwalik Hills|Shivalik-Terai]], [[North East India|North East]], [[Sunderbans]], [[Western ghats]], [[Eastern Ghats|Eastern ghats]], [[Central India]] and [[Sariska Tiger Reserve|Sariska]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.india.com/travel/articles/project-tiger-everything-you-need-to-know-about-this-initiative-3232921/|title=Project Tiger: Everything You Need to Know About This Initiative|date=27 February 2020|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=22 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322034853/https://www.india.com/travel/articles/project-tiger-everything-you-need-to-know-about-this-initiative-3232921/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Function under the ambit of Project Tiger include protection of tiger habitats, daily monitoring, facilitating ecological development for local people in the buffer zones, voluntary relocation of people from core/critical tiger habitats and addressing human-wildlife conflicts. As a part of the project, state are provided assistance on curtailing poaching activities such as disseminating information on poachers, assisting in combing forest floor to check for traps and other anti-poaching activities, maintaining tiger database, providing grants and training for deployment of Special Tiger Protection Force.<ref>{{cite web|title=About us, Project Tiger|publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority|url=https://ntca.gov.in/about-us/#ntca|access-date=1 April 2024|archive-date=5 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405081950/https://ntca.gov.in/about-us/#ntca|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Wireless communication]] systems, [[infrared]] [[thermal camera]]s and [[M-STrIPES|monitoring system]]s have been developed within the tiger reserves to assist in patrol activities.<ref>{{cite web |title="MSTrIPES": Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection & Ecological Status |publisher=India Environment Portal |year=2010 |url=http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/mstripes-ppt.pdf |work=National Tiger Conservation Authority, Wildlife Institute of India, Zoological Society of London |access-date=8 September 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135612/http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/mstripes-ppt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwfindia.org/?12021/Valmiki-Tiger-Reserve-conducts-training-workshop-on-wildlife-monitoring-using-wireless-technology|title=Valmiki Tiger Reserve conducts training workshop on wildlife monitoring using wireless technology|work=WWF India|date=19 September 2014|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

== Challenges ==
Project Tiger's efforts are hampered by [[poaching]], [[deforestation]], construction and irregularities in administration of certain reserves.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 June 2019|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/rajasthans-sariska-may-become-tiger-less-again-fear-experts-as-male-relocated-to-reserve-dies-forest-department-sends-sos-to-ntca-6809781.html|title=Rajasthan's Sariska may become tiger-less again|work=Firstpost|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=21 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121022935/https://www.firstpost.com/india/rajasthans-sariska-may-become-tiger-less-again-fear-experts-as-male-relocated-to-reserve-dies-forest-department-sends-sos-to-ntca-6809781.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=24 February 2020|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/highway-threatens-tiger-territory-in-arunachal-pradesh/article30896798.ece|title=Highway threatens tiger territory in Arunachal Pradesh|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607131525/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/highway-threatens-tiger-territory-in-arunachal-pradesh/article30896798.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Northeast Now|date=12 March 2020|url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/arunachal-pradesh/arunachal-namdapha-national-park-facing-rampant-deforestation.html|title=Namdapha National Park facing rampant deforestation|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201032712/https://nenow.in/north-east-news/arunachal-pradesh/arunachal-namdapha-national-park-facing-rampant-deforestation.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Forest Rights Act]] enacted by the Indian government in 2006 recognizes the rights of forest dwelling communities in the buffer zones. Some of the wildlife experts have questioned the implications of the same on tiger conservation as it will increase human-animal conflict and might give opportunities for poaching.<ref>{{cite news|author=Buncombe, A.|date=31 October 2007|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-face-of-a-doomed-species-398373.html|title=The face of a doomed species|work=The Independent|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704130910/https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-face-of-a-doomed-species-398373.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NO8xdKRW5EC&pg=PA118|title=An Environmental History of Postcolonial North India: The Himalayan Tarai in Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal|last=Strahorn|first=Eric A.|date=2009-01-01|publisher=Peter Lang|isbn=978-1-433-10580-7|pages=118}}</ref> While others argue that this overlooks the reality of human-tiger coexistence and the abuse of power by authorities wherein local people who have been co-existing with the animals being evicted from their traditional lands rather than allowing them a proper role in decision-making to aid the tiger crisis.<ref>{{cite report|publisher=Government of India|year=2005|url=http://projecttiger.nic.in/TTF2005/index.html|title=Tiger Task Force Report|access-date=27 March 2009|archive-date=27 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327203407/http://projecttiger.nic.in/TTF2005/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forestrightsact.com/tiger-conservation/item/4-tiger-conservation-a-disaster-in-the-making|title=Campaign for Survival and Dignity ''Tiger Conservation: A Disaster in the Making''|access-date=11 July 2011|work=Forestrightsact.com|archive-date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711020220/http://www.forestrightsact.com/tiger-conservation/item/4-tiger-conservation-a-disaster-in-the-making|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Indian states by tiger population]]
* [[Tiger reserves of India]]
* [[Tiger poaching in India]]
* [[Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education]]
* [[Save China's Tigers]]
* [[Project Elephant]]
* [[Project Dolphin (India)|Project Dolphin]]
* [[Project Cheetah]]
* [[International Big Cat Alliance]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://ntca.gov.in/ Project Tiger official website]

{{Tiger Reserves Of India}}

[[Category:Wildlife conservation in India]]
[[Category:Tiger reserves of India]]
[[Category:Tigers in India]]
[[Category:1973 in India]]
[[Category:Conservation projects]]