Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
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 and Global Tiger Forum.
The Bengal tiger is the most common subspecies of tiger, constituting approximately 80% of the entire tiger population in Indian Sub-Continent, [1] and is endemic to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and India. Tigers have mythological, cultural and religious significance in these countries. [2]
Tigers in India constitute more than 70% of the global population of tigers. [1] [2] Tigers have been officially adopted as the national animal of India [3] on the recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife [4] since April 1973. [5] In popular local languages, tigers are called baagh, puli or sher. [6]
As per 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. [4] In 2018, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, there were an estimated 2,967 wild tigers in existence in India. The wild tiger population increased to 3,682 as of 2022. [5]
Ostriches were also formerly native to India, but also became extinct during the Late Pleistocene. [9] [10] India is home to several well-known large animals, including the Indian elephant, [11] Indian rhinoceros, [12] and Gaur. [4] India is the only country where the big cats tiger and lion exist in the wild.
Project Tiger aims at tiger conservation in specially-constituted tiger reserves, which are representative of various bio-geographical regions in the country. It strives to maintain viable tiger populations in their natural environment. As of 2019, there are 50 tiger reserves in India, covering an area of 37,761 km 2 (14,580 sq mi). [16]
The tiger has been particularly important, and Project Tiger, started in 1972, was a major effort to conserve the tiger and its habitats. [8] Project Elephant, though less known, started in 1992 and works for elephant protection. [9] Most of India's rhinos today survive in the Kaziranga National Park.
Wildlife sanctuaries of India are classified as IUCN Category IV protected areas. As of November 2023, 573 wildlife sanctuaries have been established, covering 122,564.86 km 2 (47,322.56 sq mi). [2] Among these, Project Tiger governs 53 tiger reserves, which are of special significance for the conservation of the Bengal tiger. [3]