Tiger Population In India

The tiger population is precariously low around 1400 cats survive. This number is also suggestive of large scale plundering of tiger habitats in India which still continues. Both habitat destruction and hunting has contributed to the sad plight of the tigers in India. There was a drastic fall in the tiger population by the seventies. The Project Tiger initiated to conserve the endangered species achieved success albeit for a short time. The scheme controls barely 2 /3 percent of the country’s forest habitats – protected areas wild life.

Tigers being tigers are not seen sometimes and that is very disappointing. Hence avoid festivals, holidays, Saturday and Sunday, And a day or two after that. Rains, large number of tourists, seasonal burning, etc can have a negative impact on your safari and tiger sighting.

Panna and Sariska are live examples of the tiger reserves administration can be defined as lackadaisical absolutely non committal in approach to save the wilderness and its inhabitants. Most of the tiger reserves are now pockets of survival isolated islands of natural habitats for prime species.



The subcontinent was full of tigers before 20th century. But expanding population and need for agricultural land decimated the big cat’s habitat national park. This was associated with large scale hunting in India. There was a drastic fall in the tiger population by the seventies. India is in a state of quandary since the leaders perceive large scale industrialization as solution for economic development and prosperity for the poverty ridden masses. Habitat conservation and industrialization are an antithesis and intrusion in pristine lands is deadly.

The land comprises of gravels and by all means is infertile, there may be exceptions but the land owners are very poor. The dependence of large herds of livestock especially cattle is another menace. Since we cannot utilize beef for food in India the holding population of old animals is unfeasible and puts further pressure on the ecosystem.



Creation of corridors seems unfeasible in absence of strong political will. The greatest fear is of inbreeding and some instances have been recorded as in Bandhavgarh. Most of the tiger reserves are now pockets of survival isolated islands of natural habitats for prime species.