Study Attributes India's Remarkable Tiger Recovery to Key Conservation Factors

 Study Attributes India's Remarkable Tiger Recovery to Key Conservation Factors

Once eradicated from over 90% of their historic range, tigers are now on the path to recovery, with India home to approximately 75% of the global tiger population. In 2022, India successfully met the Global Tiger Recovery Program's target by doubling its tiger population, achieving the TX2 goal, despite some of the highest human population densities in the world.

Key Findings of the Study

• Increase in Tiger-Occupied Areas: Tiger-occupied areas grew by 30% between 2006 and 2018, with over 40,000 km² being colonized.
• Protected Areas: 85% of the grids occupied by tigers were within protected areas.
• Human-Tiger Coexistence: Around 45% of tiger habitats are shared with approximately 60 million people.

Factors Behind Conservation Success

• Land Sparing and Land Sharing: A balanced approach combining strictly protected, human-free areas with landscapes shared by local communities.
• Sociopolitical Stability: Stable governance supported wildlife conservation, leading to tiger recovery in reserves after conflict control, such as Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam, Amrabad, and Similipal.
• Community Attitudes: Tiger recovery was not just due to lower human population density but also the positive community tolerance toward large carnivores, seen in regions like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Significance of Tiger Population Increase
Tigers serve as flagship and umbrella species, benefiting other megafauna and ecosystems. Their presence also contributes to carbon sequestration and enhances biotic resistance to invasive species.

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