International Tiger Day

International Tiger Day

Subject: Environment

Context: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted wildlife lovers, especially those who are passionate about tiger conservation on International Tiger Day.

Concept:

• 29th July is referred to as the Global Tiger Day also every year. The day is observed to mark the declining population of tigers across the globe.
• International Tiger Day was established in 2010 at Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia to raise awareness about the decline of wild tiger numbers, leaving them in the brink of extinction and to encourage the work of Tiger conservation. In the Summit, a declaration was made that Governments of tiger populated countries had vowed to double the tiger population by 2020.
• India is home to over 70% of the tiger population globally, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring safe habitats for our tigers and nurturing tiger-friendly eco-systems.
• India is home to 51 tiger reserves spread across 18 states. The last tiger census of 2018 showed a rise in the tiger population. India achieved the target of doubling of tiger population 4 years ahead of schedule of the St. Petersburg Declaration on tiger Conservation.
• India’s strategy of tiger conservation attaches topmost importance to involving local communities.

St Petersburg Declaration

• In November 2010, the first “Tiger Summit” in St Petersburg, Russia, endorsed a Global Tiger Recovery Programme. The programme aimed at reversing the rapid decline of tigers, and doubling their numbers by 2022.
• India was one of the 13 tiger range countries that participated in the gathering. The 13 tiger range countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
• The leaders committed to drawing up action plans to –

1. Strengthen the tiger reserves
2. Crack down on poachers
3. Provide financial assistance to maintain a thriving tiger population

All India Tiger Estimation

• The All India Tiger Estimation done quadrennially is steered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority with technical backstopping from the Wildlife Institute of India and implemented by State Forest Departments and partners.
• The latest results of 2018 had shown that India now has an estimated 2967 tigers out of which 2461 individual tigers have been photo captured, a whopping 83 % of the tiger population, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the survey.