World tiger count rises for first time in 100 years

For the first time in a 100 years, there has been an increase in the global population of wild tigers with the number revised to 3,890 in 2016 as compared to about 3,200 six years ago, as per the WWF and the Global Tiger Forum. This comes a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the third Asia ministerial conference on tiger conservation, where tiger-range countries will discuss key issues, including anti-poaching strategies.

Attributing the increase to multiple factors like increase in tiger population in India, Russia, Nepal and Bhutan, improved surveys and enhanced protection, the WWF and GTF said that this updated minimum figure of 3,890, compiled from International Union for Conservation of Nature data and the latest national tiger surveys, indicates an increase on the 2010 estimate of “as few as 3,200”.

“For the first time, after decades of constant decline, tiger numbers are on the rise. This offers us great hope and shows that we can save species and their habitats when governments, local communities and conservationists work together,” said Marco Lambertini, director-general, WWF International.

While India’s tiger count stands at 2,226 according to the latest survey, Russia holds the second highest number of wildcats at 433. Indonesia has 371 tigers while Malaysia 250. Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh and Bhutan have 198, 189, 106 and 103 tigers each, according to the data compiled by the wildlife groups. Other countries which have tigers are Myanmar, China and Laos.

In 2014, tiger-range governments agreed to announce a new global tiger estimate by 2016, based on full, systematic national surveys. However, not all countries have completed or published these surveys and the new minimum estimate of close to 3,900 tigers is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species account for tigers, updated for countries where national tiger surveys have taken place since the IUCN assessment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday inaugurate the third Asia ministerial conference on tiger conservation. “More than 700 tiger experts, scientists, managers, donors and other stakeholders are gathering to discuss issues related to tiger conservation,” a government statement said, adding, “Ministers and government officials from all tiger range countries namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russian Federation, Thailand, Vietnam, besides Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan, having ranges of snow leopard will participate in the conference.”

“We have allotted Rs 380 crore to the Project Tiger in the current fiscal year, which is an all-time high and indicates that the Government of India is committed to the conservation of our national animal ‘Tiger’,” said environment minister Prakash Javadekar said, adding, “Due to the concerted efforts of the government and other stakeholders, more than 70 per cent of the global wild tiger population is in India.”

Additional Director General (Project Tiger) B S Bonal said that the delegates will discuss all important issues like landscape conservation and habitat management, tiger reintroduction, monitoring protocols, anti-poaching strategy, modern tools and technology for monitoring amongst others.