Latest news with #GlobalTigerDay
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Tiger count doubles in Chhattisgarh's Achanakmar reserve, report says conditions ripe for more growth
New Delhi: The number of tigers is on the rise in Chhattisgarh's Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, with 10 resident big cats photographed in 2024 compared to five in 2017, a new report by World Wildlife Fund India and the state forest department has revealed. Population density of the tigers' prey, wild ungulate, has also shown an upward trend.(Pixabay/Representative image) The reserve now has multiple breeding-age tigers with a a healthy sex ratio for the first time in 15 years, , said the report released on Tuesday. Three tigers and seven tigresses were photographed last year. In 2017, the reserve had four tigers and just one tigress, it noted. 'Conditions appear to be ripe for the population to grow steadily,' it said. Also read | Gujarat's Banni grasslands readying for translocation of cheetahs 'The population status and trend of tigers and prey in ATR (Achanakmar Tiger Reserve) were assessed using camera trap data from the 2017 to 2024, and line transect data from 2019 and 2024. There is evidence for progressive recovery of the tiger population over this period, with 10 resident tigers being photo-captured in 2024, relative to 5 in 2017,' the report said. 'Line transect data' here refers to a technique that involves walking or moving along a line to count the animals. More prey available too The population density of the tigers' prey, the wild ungulate, has also shown an upward trend between 2019 and 2024, according to the analysis. 'Ungulate densities were highest in the Achanakmar and Chhaparwa ranges, which coincide with areas that have been constantly used by multiple tigers over the study period. Conversely, other ranges like Lamni and Surahi were associated with lower prey densities and tiger presence, suggesting potential for future recovery efforts,' the report said. Radio collars and other recommendations WWF India has recommended radio-collaring of tigers as per existing protocol and gain insights about the foraging ecology and habitat use. Focus should be on breeding females and dispersal-age animals, it said. 'The tiger reserve and corridors comprise large areas recognised as Community Forest Resources Rights (CFRR) under the FRA, 2006. The Forest Department, NGOs, and community institutes in key villages must collaborate to promote conservation through co-management of these areas,' the report recommended. It emphasised the crucial role of the Kanha-Achanakmar and Bandhavgarh-Achanakmar corridors in enabling tiger population recovery in the area. It further stressed the need for sustained and adaptive management practices, effective protection measures, and active community participation in conservation. Move to restore habitat In a separate event, on the occasion of Global Tiger Day, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav announced the launch of a nationwide tree plantation drive, where over 1 lakh saplings will be planted across all 58 tiger reserves. As part of this initiative, authorities of each tiger reserve are to plant 2,000 saplings of indigenous plant species in degraded areas to promote habitat restoration. The event included the inauguration of forest nurseries at three locations in the Aravalli landscape.
Hans India
13 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
Odisha to introduce tigers in Debrigarh
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is planning to introduce tigers in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bargarh district, a senior Forest department official said on Tuesday. Speaking about the revival of big cat population in Odisha on the occasion of National Tiger Day, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife Prem Kumar Jha said Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a possible site for introduction of tigers. There is a plan to introduce tigers in the sanctuary, as 'We have received technical permission from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to convert Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve,' Jha said. The State government has formed an expert committee to study the wildlife sanctuary and submit a report marking the core area and buffer zone to make it a tiger habitation, he said. 'After completion of the process, we will take steps to bring the tiger to the sanctuary,' he added. Stating that tiger relocation is a very difficult process, the PCCF (Wildlife) said, 'The relocation of tigress Sundari in Satkosia Tiger Reserve has remained unsuccessful.' Last November, two tigresses —Jamuna and Zeenat—were brought to Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) from Maharashtra. The inter-State tiger relocation project was 80 per cent successful as Zeenat went to Jharkhand and West Bengal and was brought back to STR. Now, both the tigresses have been confined in their different territories, Jha said. In-breeding among the closed population has emerged as a looming threat to the striped predators in the protected area. Therefore, the STR authority had proposed to bring four tigers—two males and two females--from Maharashtra. After studying the behaviours of the two tigresses, steps will be taken to bring another tiger to the STR, he said. A similar move will be made in future to bring tigers to the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, which doesn't have any tigers at present, the forest officer said. In 2018, the Odisha government had made a tiger translocation attempt at Satkosia Tiger Reserve. A tiger named Mahavir was brought from Kanha National Park and a tigress named Sundari from Bandhavgarh National Park, both in Madhya Pradesh, and released in Satkosia. While the tiger died after falling into a trap laid by poachers, the tigress was sent back to its original habitat after it allegedly killed two persons during its 30-month stay in Odisha. As per the latest census conducted by the Odisha Forest department, 30 Royal Bengal Tigers were found in the State, of which 27 were found in Similipal Tiger Reserve. On the Tiger Day, acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, in collaboration with World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India), has created a sand sculpture featuring a 20-foot-long tiger surrounded by 51 small tigers at the Puri beach. Pattnaik said, 'It is an honour to collaborate with WWF-India on Global Tiger Day to create this sand art that reflects the tiger's deep connection with our forests and communities.' 'Through my work, I aim to send a strong visual message about the importance of co-existence. The tiger is not just a symbol of power—it is a protector of our environment and it serves as a guardian of our ecosystem,' he said.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Agniveers to join tiger protection force as Int'l Tiger Day marked with afforestation, anti-plastic drives
Dehradun: Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on the occasion of International Tiger Day, said around 80 Agniveers will be inducted into the state's upcoming tiger protection force (TPF) to help safeguard the tiger population and their natural habitat. The day also saw large-scale afforestation and anti-plastic drives across the Corbett and Rajaji tiger reserves, which are home to an estimated 260 and 54 tigers, respectively. "I congratulate everyone on Global Tiger Day. The tiger population in India has been steadily increasing. Today, we have more than 3,600 tigers in the country, with 560 of them in Uttarakhand," Dhami said. "This places our state among the top three tiger states. Agniveers will play a key role in the tiger task force, helping strengthen conservation efforts while also providing employment to the youth." In Corbett, over 2,100 saplings were planted across 54 sites in Bijrani, Dhela, Sarpduli, Kalagarh, and Jhirna ranges. In Rajaji, around 2,000 trees of local and shade-giving varieties were planted across various beats and ranges including Gram-Ganga Bhogpur Malla, Chillawali, Rawasan, Beribada, Dhaulakhand, Motichur, Ramgarh, Kansro, Gauhri, and Chilla. Dr Saket Badola, field director of Corbett Tiger Reserve, said, "The tiger is not just a species but a symbol of a healthy ecosystem. Saving tigers means protecting forests, water sources, and the climate." He also praised the efforts of field staff and local communities. Cleanliness drives were carried out under the Plastic-Free Tiger Reserve campaign. In Rajaji, forest staff and villagers collected plastic bottles, polythene, and other waste. A similar drive took place in Corbett along NH-309 from Amdanda to Garjia, with active participation from students, members of the Jim Corbett GM Association, and GIC Dhikuli. Over 200 kilograms of dry waste were collected. In collaboration with AIIMS-Rishikesh, a workshop was held for forest personnel from the Gauhri, Chilla, and Motichur ranges of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Doctors provided hands-on training in first aid and emergency response in case of wild animal attacks.
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Assam's Kaziranga Tiger Reserve has world's third-highest tiger population density
GUWAHATI Assam's Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) has recorded the third-highest tiger density in India after Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Uttarakhand's Corbett National Park, according to a report on the status of tigers in the reserve, which is better known for its one-horned rhinoceros. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma released the report online to mark Global Tiger Day on Tuesday. The report stated that 148 tigers were recorded across the 1,307.49 sq. km expanse of KTR in 2024. The 'remarkable' increase in tiger numbers since the 2022 estimation was attributed to the first-ever sampling of the Biswanath Wildlife Division, where 27 tigers were recorded. Also Read | Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is a bed of orchids for the famed one-horned rhino The tiger count grew from 104 in 2022 to 115 in 2024 in the core Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, while the Nagaon Wildlife Division maintained a count of six tigers. 'From Kaziranga to Manas, Assam is not only limited to protecting the tiger, but it is also playing an important role in restoring the tiger's habitat. With the third-highest tiger density in the world, extensive forest cover and bold steps against infiltration, the tiger, the treasure of Assam's forests, is walking proudly and bravely today,' Mr. Sarma said. Assam is not just protecting tigers, it is reclaiming their kingdom. With the world's 3rd highest tiger density, expanded reserves and bold action against encroachment, the striped beasts of Assam continue to roam with power and pride. Best wishes on #InternationalTigerDay 🐯 — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 29, 2025 According to a comparative chart in the report, KTR has 18.65 tigers per 100 sq. km - behind Bandipur's 19.83 tigers in 1,456 sq. km and Corbett's 19.56 in 1,288 sq. km. KTR officials said the survey was conducted between December 2023 and April 2024 using camera traps, following the protocol of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Wildlife Institute of India. The spatially explicit capture-recapture method, which provides a more precise and ecologically relevant approach than conventional estimation methods, was employed to determine tiger numbers. 'During the 103-day camera trapping survey, 13,157 trap nights yielded 4,011 tiger images across 242 locations. The right-flank stripe patterns were used to identify 148 adult tigers in KTR's three divisions: 83 females, 55 males, and 10 individuals with undetermined gender,' the report noted. Officials said key factors behind the population increase included habitat expansion and protection. In recent years, 200 sq. km - including 12.82 sq. km of encroachment-free land - was added under the Burhachapori-Laokhowa sanctuaries of the Nagaon Wildlife Division. 'This strategic extension has significantly expanded the landscape available to tigers, allowing for increased movement, breeding, and dispersal opportunities across divisions,' an official said. The first estimation in Kaziranga in 1997 recorded 80 tigers. The number gradually increased to 121 in the 2019 estimation but dipped to 104 in 2022.
Mint
a day ago
- General
- Mint
International Tiger Day: Odisha all set to introduce striped predators to Debrigarh sanctuary
The Odisha government is planning to introduce tigers to the famed Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bargarh district, a senior forest department official told PTI on Tuesday. Speaking about the revival of big cat population in Odisha on the occasion of International Tiger Day on July 29, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife Prem Kumar Jha said Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a possible site for the introduction of tigers. "We have received technical permission from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to convert Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary into a tiger reserve," Jha said. The state government has formed an expert committee to study the wildlife sanctuary and submit a report, marking the core area and buffer zone to make it a tiger habitation, he said. "After completion of the process, we will take steps to bring the tiger to the sanctuary," he added. Stating that tiger relocation is a very difficult process, the PCCF said, "The relocation of tigress Sundari in Satkosia Tiger Reserve has remained unsuccessful." Last November, two tigresses —Jamuna and Zeenat—were brought to Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) from Maharashtra. The inter-state tiger relocation project was 80 per cent successful as Zeenat went to Jharkhand and West Bengal and again brought back to STR. Now, both tigresses have been confined in their different territories, Jha said. Inbreeding among the closed population has emerged as a looming threat to the striped predators in the protected area. Therefore, the STR authority had proposed to bring four tigers—two males and two females--from Maharashtra. After studying the behaviours of the two tigresses, steps will be taken to bring another tiger to the STR, he said. A similar move will be taken in future to bring tigers to the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, which doesn't have any tigers at present, the forest officer said. In 2018, the Odisha government had made a tiger translocation attempt at Satkosia Tiger Reserve. A tiger named Mahavir was brought from Kanha National Park and a tigress named Sundari from Bandhavgarh National Park, both in Madhya Pradesh, and released in Satkosia. While the tiger died after falling into a trap laid by poachers, the tigress was sent back to its original habitat after it allegedly killed two people during its 30-month stay in Odisha. As per the latest census conducted by the Odisha forest department, 30 Royal Bengal Tigers were found in the state, of which 27 were found in the Similipal Tiger Reserve. On International Tiger Day, acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, in collaboration with World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India), created a sand sculpture featuring a 20-foot-long tiger surrounded by 51 small tigers at the Puri beach. Pattnaik said, "It is an honour to collaborate with WWF-India on Global Tiger Day to create this sand art that reflects the tiger's deep connection with our forests and communities." "Through my work, I aim to send a strong visual message about the importance of co-existence. The tiger is not just a symbol of power—it is a protector of our environment and it serves as a guardian of our ecosystem," he said.
