Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi
From an abysmal low of 1,411 in 2006 to 2,226 in 2014 to 2967 in 2018, India’s tiger population habounced back and how.
Releasing the All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “historic achievement”, a “re-affirmation of India’s commitment” towards protecting its big cats, the “finest example of its sankalp se siddhi (attainment through resolve)” and “a moment of pride for the country for achieving its commitment to the St. Petersburg Declaration of doubling Tiger population much in advance to the 2022 deadline”.
“We reaffirm our commitment towards protecting the tiger,” he said on Monday while releasing the report.
“Some 15 years ago, there was serious concern about the decline in the population of tigers. It was a big challenge for us, but with determination, we have achieved our goals,” he said
“With around 3,000 tigers, India has emerged as one of the biggest and safest habitats for them in world,” PM Modi said, lauding the stakeholders involved in the mammoth exercise of carrying out the scientific exercise.
“Nine long years ago, it was decided in St. Petersburg (Russia) that the target of doubling the tiger population would be 2022. We in India completed this target four years in advance. This is the finest example of sankalp se siddhi.” he said.
PM Modi also invoked two Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer Bollywood movies to emphasise the need to expand and strengthen conservation efforts. “I just want to tell the people associated with this work that the story which started with ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ and reach ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ should not stop there. This will not work. The work towards tiger conservation has to be expanded and sped up,” he said.
The latest census using 26,760 cameras, which gave a total of 35 million images of wildlife, including 76,523 images of tigers, said Environment Minister Prakash Javadeka. Data was collected using an Android-based application– M-STRIPES( Monitoring system for Tigers– Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) and analysed on the applications’ desktop module. Segregation of these images was possible in a short time because of use of artificial intelligence software.
The Prime Minister said with almost 3,000 tigers, India is today among the biggest and most secure habitats. India will build more homes for our citizens and that at the same time create quality habitats for animals. This balance is what will contribute to a strong and inclusive India, he said.
Rise in numbers
*The 33% rise in tiger numbers is the highest ever recorded between cycles, which stood at 21% between 2006 ando 2010 and 30% between 2010 and 2014.
*Rise in tiger numbers was in conformity with the average annual growth rate of tigers since, 2006.
*Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka at 524 with Uttarakhand at 3 with 442 tigers.
*Chhatisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in tiger numbers while Odisha remained constant.
*All other States witnessed a positive trend.
