Tiger numbers up: Here is what Modi govt is doing to increase the count of big cats

By Newsgram Staff Writer

In a move towards conserving the tiger population, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has introduced a slew of measures including e-surveillance of the big cats by drones.

"Since the poaching of tigers had become an issue of concern in view of the tigers' deaths, the introduction of e-surveillance by drone would be a strategic intervention for the preservation of tiger population," said Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

India which was home to more than 60 % of the total global tiger population needs a systematic approach to preserve the wild species, Javadekar said while speaking at the Meeting of Chief Wildlife Wardens of Tiger Range States and Field Directors of Tiger Reserves today.

Speaking earlier on the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change Ashok Lavasa mentioned that the project had been implemented in a mission made format. He further added that the ministry had taken initiative to declare 102 eco- sensitive zones with reference to geo sensitive maps. He also stressed the need to find ways to resolve human animal conflict.

The Minister Prakash Javadekar also released SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure) on issues related to Active Management towards rehabilitation of Tigers, Orphan Tiger cubs and Tiger depredation on livestock which gives various details of steps being taken in this regard.

To ensure that straying tigers are handled in the most appropriate manner to avoid casualty or injury to human beings, tiger, cattle and property, the SOPs provide the basic, minimum steps which are required to be taken at the field level (tiger reserve or elsewhere) for dealing with incidents of rehabilitation of Tigers, Orphan Tiger cubs or tiger straying in human dominated landscapes.

Project Tiger

The Government of India has taken a pioneering initiative for conserving its national animal, the tiger, by launching the 'Project Tiger' in 1973. From 9 tiger reserves since its formative years, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 47 at present, spread out in 18 of our tiger range states. This amounts to around 2.08% of the geographical area of our country. The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy. The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple use area. The Project Tiger aims to foster an exclusive tiger agenda in the core areas of tiger reserves, with an inclusive people oriented agenda in the buffer.