๐ฏ Chapter 03 ยท Topic 04 ยท Tiger Reserves & Project Tiger
Tiger Reserves & Project Tiger in India
Project Tiger 1973, NTCA, 54 tiger reserves, tiger census 2022, and Project Elephant โ complete exam notes.
Project Tiger โ Overview
Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to protect the Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) from extinction. It is one of the most successful wildlife conservation programmes in the world.
1973
Year Launched
54
Tiger Reserves (2023)
3,167
Tigers (Census 2022)
~75%
World’s Wild Tigers in India
- Launched by: PM Indira Gandhi on April 1, 1973
- First Tiger Reserve: Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
- Governing Body: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) โ statutory body under WPA 1972 (amended 2006)
- NTCA established: 2005 (on recommendations of Tiger Task Force)
- Tiger Census method: Camera traps + pugmark identification + DNA analysis
- Tiger Census 2022: ~3,167 tigers โ highest ever recorded
- India has approximately 75% of the world’s wild tiger population
โก Tiger Census Timeline: 1973 (~1,800) โ 2006 (~1,411, lowest) โ 2010 (~1,706) โ 2014 (~2,226) โ 2018 (~2,967) โ 2022 (~3,167). The 2006 census was a wake-up call that led to NTCA formation.
Key Tiger Reserves of India
| Tiger Reserve | State | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Corbett | Uttarakhand | First Tiger Reserve (1973); first NP of India (1936) |
| Ranthambore | Rajasthan | Famous for diurnal (daytime) tiger sightings; ancient fort |
| Bandhavgarh | Madhya Pradesh | Highest tiger density in India; white tigers historically |
| Kanha | Madhya Pradesh | Barasingha conservation; inspiration for Jungle Book |
| Pench | MP / Maharashtra | Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book setting; Mowgli’s land |
| Sundarbans | West Bengal | Swimming tigers; mangrove habitat; UNESCO WHS |
| Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) | Karnataka | Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; elephants & tigers |
| Periyar | Kerala | Elephants; Periyar Lake; eco-tourism model |
| Kaziranga | Assam | One-horned rhino + tigers; UNESCO WHS |
| Manas | Assam | Golden Langur; UNESCO WHS; Project Tiger reserve |
| Sariska | Rajasthan | First reserve to successfully reintroduce tigers (2008) |
| Panna | Madhya Pradesh | Tiger reintroduction success story; Biosphere Reserve |
| Tadoba-Andhari | Maharashtra | Largest tiger reserve in Maharashtra |
| Simlipal | Odisha | Melanistic (black) tigers; Biosphere Reserve |
๐ฟ States with Most Tiger Reserves: Madhya Pradesh (6) โ Karnataka (5) โ Uttarakhand (3) โ Maharashtra (3). MP is called the “Tiger State” of India.
Critical Tiger Landscapes
- Terai Arc Landscape: Corbett, Dudhwa, Valmiki โ foothills of Himalayas
- Central Indian Landscape: Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh, Satpura โ largest tiger population
- Western Ghats Landscape: Nagarhole, Bandipur, Mudumalai, Periyar, Anamalai
- Sundarbans Landscape: Unique mangrove tigers; India + Bangladesh
- North-East India: Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri
Project Elephant (1992)
Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the Government of India to protect elephants, their habitats, and migration corridors.
- Year launched: 1992
- Number of Elephant Reserves: 33 (covering 10 states)
- Elephant population: ~27,000โ30,000 (India has ~60% of Asia’s wild elephants)
- National Animal: Tiger; National Heritage Animal: Elephant (declared 2010)
- Key states: Karnataka, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand
- Elephant corridors: 101 corridors identified across India
- Largest elephant reserve: Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, Odisha
โก Elephant vs Tiger: Tiger = National Animal; Elephant = National Heritage Animal (2010). Project Tiger (1973) predates Project Elephant (1992) by 19 years. Both are managed under MoEFCC.
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Revision Checklist โ Topic 04
โ Project Tiger launched April 1, 1973 by PM Indira Gandhi
โ First Tiger Reserve: Jim Corbett, Uttarakhand
โ NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) โ statutory body under WPA 1972
โ India has 54 Tiger Reserves (2023)
โ Tiger Census 2022: ~3,167 tigers โ highest ever
โ India has ~75% of world’s wild tigers
โ Bandhavgarh โ highest tiger density
โ Sundarbans โ swimming tigers; mangrove habitat
โ Sariska โ first successful tiger reintroduction (2008)
โ Simlipal โ melanistic (black) tigers
โ MP has most tiger reserves (6); called “Tiger State”
โ Project Elephant launched 1992; 33 reserves; ~27,000โ30,000 elephants
โ Elephant = National Heritage Animal (2010)
โ 101 elephant corridors identified in India
โ First Tiger Reserve: Jim Corbett, Uttarakhand
โ NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) โ statutory body under WPA 1972
โ India has 54 Tiger Reserves (2023)
โ Tiger Census 2022: ~3,167 tigers โ highest ever
โ India has ~75% of world’s wild tigers
โ Bandhavgarh โ highest tiger density
โ Sundarbans โ swimming tigers; mangrove habitat
โ Sariska โ first successful tiger reintroduction (2008)
โ Simlipal โ melanistic (black) tigers
โ MP has most tiger reserves (6); called “Tiger State”
โ Project Elephant launched 1992; 33 reserves; ~27,000โ30,000 elephants
โ Elephant = National Heritage Animal (2010)
โ 101 elephant corridors identified in India