Tiger Reserves of India by Dr. Gaurav Garg
● There are only 13 Tiger Range Countries in the World.
● These Countries are - India, China, Russia, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam.
● 70% of the World's Tigers are found in India.
● In Recent times Tiger Population has been decreasing, Main reasons are -
➢ Habitat Degradation.
➢ Hunting.
● In 2010, First Tiger Summit of 13 countries took placed in St. Petersburg, Russia.
● It was decided that at the time of the next meeting in 2022, all 13 countries have to double their Tiger
Population. It was named "TX2".
● Deadline for "TX2" was kept 2022 as it is the 'Chinese Year of Tiger', so China insisted on this deadline.
● Nepal became the first country to achieve this target in 2018 and India achieved it in 2019.
● In India, Tiger Estimation is done after every 4 years. First Estimation was done in 2006. then 2010, 2014
and 2018.
● Report of Tiger Estimation in 2018 was released by PM Narendra Modi on 29th July 2019. We also
celebrate "International Tiger Day" on 29th July.
● India has 18 Tiger Range States. According to 2018 Report States with Highest Tiger Population are -
➢ Madhya Pradesh (526).
➢ Karnataka (524).
➢ Uttarakhand (442).
➢ Maharashtra (312).
● Indian Government uses a mobile app "M-Stripes" for counting of Tigers.
● Both Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park are made for one thing only "In Situ Conservation".
● In Situ means Conservation in Natural Environment. For example, Animals kept in Wildlife Sanctuary,
National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, etc.
● Ex Situ means Conservation in Artificial Environment. For example, Animals kept in Zoo.
Biosphere Reserve :-
● Biosphere reserves are sites established by countries and
recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB)
Programme to promote sustainable development based on
local community efforts and sound science. The programme
of Biosphere Reserve was initiated by UNESCO in 1971.
● World got its first Biosphere Reserve in 1979, and India made
its first Biosphere Reserve "Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve" in 1986.
● Biosphere Reserves are very large areas, It can contain
many Wildlife Sanctuary, National Parks, Forests, etc.
● Nilgiri Biosphere reserve includes the Aralam, Mudumalai,
Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent Valley national
parks, as well as the Wayanad and Sathyamangalam
wildlife sanctuaries.
Tiger Reserves :-
● "Project Tiger" came in 1973 with the aim to protect the Tiger Population in India.
● Tiger Reserves are basically Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park, But these were taken under 'Project
Tiger'.
● For example, Kaziranga National Park had a good amount of Tiger Population, so the Government has
taken Kaziranga National Park under Project Tiger, and it became Tiger Reserve.
● Main benefit of this is more funding from the government, as Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme (it means both Central and State Government will give funds).
● 18 tiger range states, 2.21% of the geographical area of India.
● Currently India has 50 Tiger Reserves according to o
● Core Area (Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park) is only for Tigers (Tigers will live
here only), No activity will happen in this area.
● Buffer Area - Any Manual activity or any other Government Activity will happen in
this area only. Mining, Business, Railway lines, Roads all these things can only happen
with Government Permission and that too in the Buffer Area.
● Project Tiger is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change providing central assistance to the tiger
States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.
● The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body of the Ministry, with an
overarching supervisory / coordination role, performing functions as provided in the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972.
● The Wildlife Protection Act divides Animals into categories, mainly in 5 Schedules.
● Animals in Schedule 1 are given the maximum level of Protection, for example Great Indian Bustard.
● Animals kept in Schedule 5 are called 'Vermin', these are protected but they can be killed if a situation
arises. For example, In Himachal every year problems arise due to the increased population of Monkeys,
so the Government had to put monkeys in Schedule 5 and then after its been declared Vermin and they
kill monkeys.
Chhattisgarh :-
● Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve.
● Achanakmar Tiger Reserve.
● Indravati Tiger Reserve.
● 4th one recently made "Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve", it
was previously National Park.
Bihar :-
● Valmiki Tiger Reserve. (Previously National Park).
Assam :-
● Nameri Tiger Reserve.
● Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Famous for Rhino. (Also a
UNESCO World Heritage Site).
● Manas Tiger Reserve. (Also a UNESCO World Heritage
Site).
● Orang Tiger Reserve.
Arunachal Pradesh :-
● Pakke Tiger Reserve.
● Namdapha Tiger Reserve.
● Kamlang Tiger Reserve, 50th Tiger Reserve of India.
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