Tiger Reserves in India: Need and challenges
Overview of Madhav National Park
Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, was recently declared a tiger reserve, making it the 58th in India. The park spans 1,651 sq km and currently hosts six tigers, including a cub. This designation is expected to enhance tiger movement in the Ranthambore-Kuno-Madhav National Park corridor.
Project Tiger
Historically, hunting big game was a common activity, intensified during British rule. The decline in tiger populations due to hunting and deforestation alarmed authorities in the 1960s.
- In 1969, the export of tiger skins was banned by the Indira Gandhi-led government.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognized tigers as endangered during its 10th assembly.
- A task force led by Karan Singh set the stage for Project Tiger in 1973, aimed at preserving tiger populations and habitats.
Purpose of Reserves
Project Tiger initially included nine reserves, such as Manas, Jim Corbett, Kanha, and others. The purpose was to create "core" zones where felling, grazing, and movement of people, except those involved in conservation activities, was prohibited and "buffer zones" with limited human activity.
- In 2005-06, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body, was established for project oversight.
Tiger Distribution
India's tiger population is estimated at 3,681 (range 3,167-3,925) across roughly 89,000 sq km. Key landscapes include the Shivalik Hills, Central Indian Highlands, Western Ghats, and others.
- Corbett National Park has the largest tiger population with 260 tigers.
- Madhya Pradesh leads in state-wise tiger population with 785 tigers, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).
- A study (2006-2018) showed a 30% increase in tiger territory, with only 25% of habitats in core reserve areas and 20% in buffer zones.
Concerns and Challenges
Of the 53 tiger reserves, 26 have populations exceeding 50 tigers. However, 27 reserves face low tiger densities, with some having no tigers or only male populations.
- States like Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh have static or declining tiger populations, with Satkosia reserve in Odisha experiencing local extinction.
- Factors like poor socio-economic conditions, political instability, insurgencies, mining pressures, and resource competition contribute to these challenges.
