India’s uneven tiger tale: 22 reserves host fewer than 10 big cats — and 3 of them have none at all, finds DTE analysis

India’s uneven tiger tale: 22 reserves host fewer than 10 big cats — and 3 of them have none at all, finds DTE analysis

Sub: Env

Sec: Species

Context:

• India hosts about 75% of the global tiger population and is home to at least 3,167 tigers as per the 2022 NTCA Tiger Census, showing an increase from 2,967 in 2018. However, the distribution of tigers across the country is highly uneven, and multiple challenges continue to threaten their conservation.

Key Findings on Tiger Distribution:

• Uneven Distribution:
  • 40% of tigers are concentrated in just 11% of reserves.
  • Only six reserves host more than 100 tigers each, accounting for 795 tigers. These reserves are:
    • Corbett National Park: 231 tigers (highest in India)
    • Nagarhole: 127 tigers
    • Bandipur: 126 tigers
    • Kaziranga & Bandhavgarh: 104 tigers each
    • Mudumalai: 103 tigers
  • 22 reserves report fewer than 10 tigers, including Buxa (West Bengal), Dampa (Mizoram), and Palamu (Jharkhand), which recorded no tigers.
• Coverage and Reserves:
  • India’s 56 tiger reserves span 78,626 sq. km, about 2.3% of India’s total area.
  • Recent additions:
    • Veerangana Durgavati (Madhya Pradesh)
    • Dholpur-Karauli (Rajasthan)
    • Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla (Chhattisgarh)

Threats to Tigers and Their Habitats:

1. Poaching and Staff Shortages:
   • 20 reserves lack sufficient anti-poaching staff, and some report staffing shortages of up to 40%.
   • Key vacancies include forest guards and frontline staff, hindering patrolling and monitoring efforts.
2. Invasive Species:
   • 40 reserves are affected by invasive species like Lantana camara, Prosopis juliflora, and Chromolaena odorata, which dominate 66% of natural ecosystems in India.
   • These invasive plants disrupt herbivore populations by reducing edible vegetation, ultimately affecting apex predators like tigers.
3. Habitat Fragmentation and Mining:
   • Linear infrastructure projects (roads, railways) and mining activities fragment habitats and tiger corridors, altering genetic diversity.
4. Low Prey Base:
   • Insufficient prey populations prompt interventions like augmenting prey species, but experts criticize these as unscientific measures akin to farming in wilderness areas.

Source: DTE