Panthera tigris tigris, known to us as the tiger, is a powerful and enigmatic creature which has held a significant place in history and culture. Known as Vyaghra in ancient Vedic texts, this majestic predator has represented strength and exuded an aura of mystery. In the Indian subcontinent, the tiger’s influence is deeply embedded in cultural and imperial symbols, such as the Chola dynasty emblems and 16th-17th century Indian miniature paintings. The tiger is deeply rooted in Indian culture and dates back to 2500 BC – the date of the pictorial seals discovered at Mohenjo-Daro. So powerful is its persona that in as an ancient Chinese animal symbol is an emblem of dignity, ferocity, sternness, courage. Tigers has existed for approximately 50 million years, evolving from tree-climbing miacids into the formidable predators of today. Their ancestors diverged from the Panthera lineage around 20 million years ago, with fossils dating back one to two million years found across China, Java, Sumatra, Russia and India. They are highly adapted to their ecosystems, capable of surviving in temperatures ranging from -33°C to 50°C. Their powerful jaws, sensitive canines, and advanced night vision make them exceptional hunters.

Despite its revered status, the tiger has faced severe threats over the past few centuries. Despite its adaptations, the tiger’s existence remains fragile. The relentless pursuit for sport and habitat loss has left lasting impacts. During the Mughal era, tiger hunting, or shikar, became a celebrated sport among emperors, continuing for around 3 centuries. Famously, Nur Jehan was for instance was admired for her skill in hunting tigers and an unknown poet even said for her ‘though Nur Jahan be in form a woman, In the ranks of men she’s a tiger-slayer”. The arrival of Europeans in the 18th century, equipped with advanced technology, introduced a grim new chapter in the large scale destruction of the animal. British colonialists, seeking prestige, turned tiger hunting into a status symbol, leading to the large-scale killing of these apex predators.The scale of destruction was staggering. Between 1875 and 1925, over 80,000 tigers were killed for sport and vanity. Indian Maharajas, including the Maharaja of Udaipur and the Maharaja of Vijayanagara, competed in hunting tigers, significantly reducing their population from 40,000 at the turn of the century to around 4,000 by 1950s. In fact it is recorded that when around mid 19th century, the British took over some princely kingdoms, captive tigers would be found some of which found there way, on ships, to America.

In response to the crisis of diminishing numbers, conservation efforts were initiated post-independence. In 1969, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the tiger as endangered in its Red Data Book. The first tiger census in India in 1972 estimated a dismal population of about 1,827. Initiating immediate steps, in the year 1973, the Project Tiger was launched in Corbett National Park, marking a critical step in tiger conservation: a timely intervention which has been a remarkable milestone in tiger conservation.To protect these magnificent creatures, it is crucial to continue and enhance conservation efforts.

Key Achievements of Project Tiger

• Population Recovery: From an estimated 1,827 tigers in 1972, the population has grown to approximately 3,167 by 2022, with India hosting over 70% of the global tiger population. There are 3,682 tigers now in India, up from 2,967 in 2018 — a rise of almost 24% in four years. In 1972 there were only 1827 tigers in India.With this; India is now home to approximately 75% of the world’s tiger population in the wild. Incidentally, in the U.S., there are approximately more than 5,000 tigers in captivity but India boasts of the largest numbers roaming freely in their natural habitat.
• Expansion of Reserves: Initially, Project Tiger established nine reserves covering 9,115 sq. km of land. Today, there are 55 reserves, totalling over 78,000 sq. km.
• Legal Framework: The creation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Protection Act has reinforced conservation efforts and habitat management.
• Community Engagement: The project has fostered local community involvement, aiding habitat recovery and reducing human-wildlife conflict.

Challenges to Tiger Conservation

• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, and agricultural expansion have fragmented tiger habitats, reducing their living space and prey availability.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: As tiger habitats shrink and human populations expand, conflicts arise, leading to retaliatory killings.
• Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade: Tigers are hunted for their skins, bones, and other body parts, driven by demand in illegal markets.Other tiger parts like claws, teeth, and whiskers are well sought after for good luck and protective powers leading to a push towards poaching.
• Climate Change Impact: Rising sea levels and changing weather patterns threaten critical habitats, particularly in regions like the Sundarbans.
• Lack of Connectivity between Habitats: Isolated tiger populations face genetic bottlenecks and reduced diversity due to fragmented habitats.
• Limited Community Participation: Effective conservation requires broad community involvement, but limited engagement can lead to resistance and insufficient support.
• Conflict between Conservation and Development: Balancing conservation goals with development projects often leads to conflicts.
• Lastly, tourism can also be said to be a huge challenge in conservation efforts. Guileless and uneducated crowd the reserves resulting in changes in animal behaviour as does the fashion for holidaying on the edges of these parks where loud sounds and human littering damages the eco-system which the predator and other animals require.

The Way Forward

The way ahead is simple which is to expand and preserve tiger habitats and further augment tiger corridors. It is a fact that with the increase in tiger population more land is required to host them since tigers are essentially territorial and each of the species  needs between 60 square kilometres and 100 square kilometres with enough food, water and shelter resources. Male tigers need larger territories than females.

Further, it is essential to maintain connectivity between habitats to ensure genetic diversity.Inbreeding has adverse effect on survivability of tigers that may lead to its extinction. In order to save tigers, planned breeding should be made, avoiding brother-sister, father-daughter and mother-son mating. A recent study has found that in extremely popular Ranthambore National Park Ranthambore’s tigers are up to twice as inbred as tigers in the larger, better-connected tiger populations of central and southern India.

In order to reduce human-tiger conflicts through improved management and awareness, Rangers should be encouraged to find and remove snares and traps. Local people should also be educated and made aware of the risks of using snares and traps. Communities should be advised against hunting tigers in retribution for attacks or attacking tigers they encounter in the forest or in the village. This will also assist in combating poaching and habitat loss with stronger enforcement and community involvement.

Lastly, fostering of collaborative efforts involving governments, NGOs, local communities, and businesses can go a long way in creating awareness. In fact, conservation in general and in particular about tigers should be a part of school curricula so awareness is created from early years in all citizens.

To conclude, by addressing these challenges and building on the achievements of Project Tiger, we can strive to ensure the survival of tigers and maintain the delicate balance of nature for future generations. In sum everything is interrelated in this world. Each one of us is interdependent on each other for our survival. It is so aptly mentioned in Mahabharata.

“The tiger perishes without the forest and the forest perishes without its tigers. Therefore, the tiger should stand guard over the forest, and the forest should protect all its tigers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Devendra Singh is a Photographer and Environmenalist. He was a civil servant by profession and a nature lover by birth having grown up in lush green lands of Delhi. He now pursues photography as a full-time passion.