Tiger numbers have increased significantly in India and Bhutan. This information has been revealed in the new statistics published separately by both the countries. BBC news.
India’s Minister of State for Forests, Environment and Climate Change said the country recorded an average of 3,682 tigers, home to 75 percent of the world’s wild tiger population.
Separately, 131 tigers were recorded in Bhutan, a 27 percent increase from the last count in 2015.
India’s Ministry of Environment says, according to new statistics, the number of tigers in India is increasing by 6 percent annually. By the 1970s, tiger numbers were down to less than 2,000 due to widespread poaching and habitat loss. Population growth is a major conservation success for India.
“India’s exemplary efforts in tiger conservation and increase in tiger numbers is not just a statistic but a testament to the determination and commitment of the nation,” says Union Minister for Forests, Environment and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav.
An increase in tiger numbers in the tiny Himalayan state of Bhutan was also celebrated.
“This is a remarkable achievement and indicative of a very healthy ecosystem,” said World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Bhutan Country Director Chimi Rinjin.
A survey of Bhutan’s tiger population found evidence of tiger breeding at different altitudes in the country, which could help the country recover regional populations.
The news was welcomed in both Bhutan and India, as the world continues to grapple with the increasing loss of species due to issues such as climate change.
As an apex predator, the tiger is considered essential for preserving the complex systems that underpin the natural world.
Tiger is an endangered species. According to WWF statistics, the number of wild tigers worldwide has declined by about 96 percent in the last century.
Habitat loss due to human settlement and illegal wildlife trade are among the factors responsible for this decline.
Along with Bhutan and India, Nepal has also made significant progress, doubling its tiger population in the past decade.
However, there are concerns about increased tiger attacks in areas where conservation efforts are underway.
According to official statistics, more than 100 people died in tiger attacks in India between 2019 and 2021.
Similar fears exist in Bhutan. Bhutan’s National Tiger Survey report and WWF say that if tigers are to continue to thrive, human-tiger conflict must be resolved.
Increased conflict has reduced tolerance towards tigers and poses a significant threat to both local people and tigers. However, Stuart Chapman, who leads WWF’s tiger conservation initiatives, admits that growing tiger populations could lead to severe challenges. Bhutan is perfectly positioned to become a global champion for approaches that support coexistence between tigers and humans, he added.
