The success of Project Tiger shows that India is taking several steps to conserve the wildlife population as there were 2,997 tigers in the country according to the latest survey of 2018-19.
Currently, the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India) addresses species conservation through field level activities in various landscapes as well as direct interventions to conserve a specific species. These programs focus on threats to wildlife and the issues associated with threats. These include poaching, human-wildlife conflict, trade in wildlife parts, habitat destruction and legal support. Project activities are carried out both at field level and at political level.
On previous occasions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said: “I salute all those who work to protect wildlife. Be it lions, tigers or leopards, India is seeing a steady increase in the population of various animals.”
“We should do everything we can to protect our forests and safe habitats for animals,” he had said.
The protection of wildlife species at WWF-India began with the initiation of the Tiger Conservation Program (TCP) in the early 1970’s. In 2000 the program was diversified into several conservation projects for tigers, Asian elephants and rhinos, and in 2005 Nilgiri Tahr, Red Panda and Snow Leopard were added to the list.
Earlier, former Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar said: “India has a thriving wildlife and biodiversity. 70 percent of the world’s tiger population, 70 percent of the Asiatic lion and 60 percent of the leopard population live here.”
Project Tiger in the 1970s and Project Elephant in 1992 – both with showcase species – attracted worldwide attention. India then also became a member of all major international protection treaties related to habitat, species and environment. The tiger census is normally conducted every four years and the elephants are counted every five years.
According to the latest survey of 2018-19, there were 2,997 tigers in India. As of the last census in 2017, there were 29,964 elephants in India. In 2017, the Union Department of Environment reported that there were an average of 27,312 elephants in the country, according to figures from 23 states. However, in 2019 it emerged that Kerala may have undercounted nearly 2,700 elephants at the last elephant census, and the updated 2017 figures showed an average of 29,964 elephants.
The tiger (Panthera tigris) has been a showcase species for biodiversity and wildlife conservation in India since 1972. As an apex predator, the tiger is at the top of the food chain, helping to keep wild ungulate numbers in check, thereby also balancing herbivores and vegetation. These majestic animals play important roles as indicators of the health of the ecosystems in which they thrive.
In particular, on July 29, the world celebrated Global Tiger Day.
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