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Time of India
03-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tiger population tells success of India's wildlife conservation story but challenges remain
NEW DELHI: In 2006, India had just 1,411 tigers left in the wild. By 2022, there were 3,682, almost 75% of the world's wild tiger population — a 161% jump in just 16 years. More than 50 years since the launch of Project Tiger in 1973, the numbers tell a tale that's obvious: tiger conservation has been a roaring success. But challenges remain. 03:37 Where Tigers Get Caught Between Faith And Tourism | I Witness The numbers are significant, especially in the backdrop of a decline in tiger population in the 1980s, and a period of not-so-robust growth thereafter because of multiple factors, primarily poaching. By 2004, the situation had become so bad that tigers were on the brink of extinction at Rajasthan's Sariska Tiger Reserve. The country's wildlife managers and biologists sensed the urgency and started taking multiple measures to protect the existing tiger population and increase the number of big cats. But, in the journey from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2022, many lessons have been learnt — primarily about human-tiger conflict and the lurking threat of poaching. 'The country has been a leader in tiger conservation,' said Yadvendradev V Jhala, a senior scientist at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and a former dean of Wildlife Institute of India (WII). But Jhala — who has been part of the journey to bring back tigers through policy intervention and management strategies, following the Sariska situation — cautions that the threat to tigers has never gone away. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cote D'ivoire: New Senior Apartments (Prices May Surprise You) Senior Apartments | Search Ads Search Now Undo 'Though India now has approximately 3,700 tigers, they are still vulnerable and can be decimated if poaching is left unchecked, as the market for illegal tiger parts and products still thrives outside India. ' He also reminded that the tiger population increase had not been uniform: reserves such as Palamau (Jharkhand), Achanakmar (Chhattisgarh), Satkosia (Odisha), Dampa (Mizoram) and Buxa (Bengal) have seen declines and localised extinctions. On the other hand, big cat populations in Uttarakhand and eastern Maharashtra had increased so much that man-animal conflict has become an issue. 'Also, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand have registered declines, though they have good habitats because of prey base depletion,' Jhala said. India began its efforts to protect the tiger population when it launched Project Tiger as a centrally sponsored scheme in 1973 in nine reserves (Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal) over a 14,000sq km area. Since then, project coverage has expanded to 58 tiger reserves, over more than 84,487sq km across 18 states, occupying nearly 2.5% of the country's total geographical area. The numbers show that approximately 35% of our tiger reserves urgently require enhanced protection measures, such as habitat restoration, ungulate augmentation and subsequent tiger reintroduction. 'Tiger recovery is linked with rural community prosperity and law and order,' Jhala said. 'In the last 20 years, wherever there has been extreme poverty and armed conflicts (Maoist activity or other law-and-order problems), we have seen tiger extinctions. Improving the livelihoods of forest communities, so that they do not have to rely on forest produce for a living, will reduce their negative impact on biodiversity. ' He, however, stressed that India would need a strategy to manage the growing population of tigers. 'If this is not done in time, there will likely be a severe backlash from local communities, and we stand to lose all we gained in the past 20 years.' The conflict has, indeed, taken a human toll. The environment ministry told Parliament on July 24 that 73 lives were lost in tiger attacks in 2024, with Maharashtra reporting the highest (42), followed by UP (10), MP (6), Uttarakhand (5) and Assam (4). There were 51 human lives lost in 2020, 59 in 2021, 110 in 2022 and 85 in 2023. Indian Forest Service officer and Barabanki DFO Akash Deep Badhawan said during his tenure as DFO Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Bahraich, forest personnel grappled with a mix of threats: a 45km porous border with Nepal, with cross-border gangs and illegal wildlife trade putting staff at risk. Understaffing and resource shortages are another constraint. 'Human-wildlife conflict fuels mistrust between communities and enforcement teams. Efforts to evict encroachments or set up fencing provoke resistance from villagers, compounding socio-political tension. Balancing legal constraints, regulatory delays, and ecological imperatives adds further administrative and ethical complexity.'
Time of India
02-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
NHAI removes inaccurate plaques near Haldighati
1 2 3 Jaipur: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Tuesday removed four plaques installed along a 6-km stretch near the historic Haldighati battlefield in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district after they were found to contain inaccurate and conflicting information about the 1576 battle between Maharana Pratap and Mughal emperor Akbar's forces. The action came in response to a TOI report published on June 19 titled "Haldighati Plaques Omit Key Historical Facts, Spark Uproar". Among the misrepresentations were conflicting timelines of the battle, which was alternatively described as lasting three hours, three days and June 18–23 across different plaques. The inscriptions also omitted key historical figures, notably Mirza Raja Man Singh of Amber, who led the Mughal forces in Haldighati. Following the report, several cultural and historical organisations expressed outrage and demanded immediate removal of the misleading plaques. Chandra Shekhar Sharma, professor of history at Meera Girls College in Udaipur, who flagged the issue, criticised the language and content of the plaques: "Not only were the facts incorrect but the diction and Hindi grammar seemed as if the text was lifted straight from a WhatsApp forward. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo by Taboola by Taboola Authorities must be more cautious — the people of Mewar are highly sensitive when it comes to the legacy of Maharana Pratap." Pratap Singh Jhala, coordinator of Mewarjan—an Udaipur-based organisation dedicated to preserving Mewar's cultural heritage—confirmed that he submitted historically accurate content to NHAI so that corrections could be made. "They (NHAI authorities) accepted the revised text and we expect the corrected plaques to be installed soon," he said. NHAI officials are said to have conveyed to Jhala that their initial intention was to place a basic plaque featuring just a headline. "However, detailed information was later added by the field staff without formal review or approval, leading to the discrepancies," Jhala said.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Time of India
Activist files complaint over attempt to defraud him using fake online account
Ahmedabad: A city-based activist filed a complaint on Monday with Bopal police station, accusing unknown persons of creating a fake social media account with a false investment scheme and attempting to cheat him of Rs 50,000. The complainant, Bharatsinh Jhala, stated that on May 29, he saw a social media account in the name of a public figure with the logo of a well-known company. Having worked with the company earlier, Jhala messaged the account, stating that he was a former employee. He received a response asking for proof. Jhala shared a photo of his old employee ID. He was then asked if he wanted to invest in a finance scheme. The message claimed that an investment of Rs 50,000 would return Rs 2.5 lakh in 72 hours. He was given bank details for the money transfer. The bank account was in the name of Yogeshkumari. Suspecting fraud, Jhala contacted an official at the company who knew him. He later approached the police with screenshots and other documents. Bopal police registered a complaint on Monday under the BNS and Information Technology Act for cheating, breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy against unknown persons.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Suspected grey wolf sighted in Delhi after decades
A possible sighting of the Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) has been reported in Delhi, after a wildlife enthusiast photographed a lone animal resembling the elusive species along the Yamuna floodplains near Palla, in north Delhi, where the river enters the city. The rare encounter occurred on Thursday morning, when the animal was seen along the riverbanks before vanishing into the tall riverine grasses. No recent records exist of the species in Delhi, with a 2014 publication on the Delhi Ridge by forester GN Sinha stating the wolf has not been spotted in the capital after the 1940s. Experts cautioned that while the photographs resemble the Indian grey wolf, the possibility of cross-breeding with feral dogs cannot be ruled out without genetic testing. YV Jhala, a leading wildlife scientist and expert on Indian wolves, said the animal in the photographs did appear 'wolfish', but hybridisation was a growing concern. 'It does look like a wolf. But the dark colour and the curve of the tail suggest possible dog gene introversion. Without genetic analysis, everything remains speculative,' he said. Jhala noted that hybridisation with feral dogs is increasingly observed across regions due to a rise in dog populations and shrinking wild habitats. In fact, just last January, an Indian grey wolf was documented in the Chambal region after nearly two decades. Jhala said while Delhi rarely sees this species, large parts of Uttar Pradesh support a stable population. 'Wolves are capable of travelling hundreds of kilometres, so a long-distance movement cannot be ruled out either,' he said. The Delhi sighting was first made by Hemant Garg, 41, a businessman and wildlife enthusiast who actively tracks nocturnal animals. 'I spotted this dog-like animal around 8am on Thursday near Palla. It had a dull, dark grey coat and walked with a gait that didn't quite match a dog's. As I moved closer and took a few photographs, it darted into a patch of tall grass and disappeared,' said Garg. Wildlife conservationist Raghu Chundawat, who has previously conducted detailed surveys on wolves in India, also reviewed the photographs and said the animal did resemble the Indian grey wolf. 'There's no recent documented evidence of the species in Delhi, but I recall spotting one near the airport in the early 1990s,' he said, adding that although it's difficult to determine where the animal came from, adjacent Uttar Pradesh hosts a decent wolf population. 'It could very well have travelled a considerable distance to reach here.' GN Sinha's 2013 book, An Introduction to the Delhi Ridge, notes that the Indian grey wolf was once commonly found in the Ridge and its surrounding areas. The Indian grey wolf typically inhabits grasslands, scrub forests, thorn forests, and dry deciduous regions. It often shares space with agro-pastoral communities and preys on livestock such as sheep and goats, as well as rodents and hares. Surya Ramachandran, a naturalist who has closely studied wolf behaviour, was among the experts who analysed Garg's photographs. 'They were shared with me shortly after the sighting, and from the side profile, it does appear to be a wolf. We suspect it may have travelled along the Yamuna, possibly from the Chambal region,' he said. Experts agree that while this may be an isolated incident, the sighting carries great ecological significance for Delhi. 'The sighting of the Indian grey wolf in Delhi is both thrilling and deeply significant. It highlights the resilience of wildlife in the face of urban sprawl and underlines the urgent need to conserve the remaining natural habitats around our cities,' said Abhishek Gulshan, naturalist and founder of NINOX – Owl About Nature. Dr Suryaprakash, a zoologist at Jawaharlal Nehru University, added that the location of the sighting is particularly intriguing. 'Delhi lies between two key habitats for wolves — the Yamuna riverine plains on one side and Haryana's Aravalli belt leading into Rajasthan on the other. Both these ecosystems are home to this shy, strategic hunter,' he said. 'They rarely pose a threat to humans but often live close to settlements to prey on livestock. Over time, however, cross-breeding with dogs has diluted the species' genetic purity.' The forest department is yet to confirm the sighting but said they are reviewing the images and may conduct a site inspection. A senior forest and wildlife department official said they were not aware of such a sighting. 'We will look into it,' the official said, adding no recent records of the species in Delhi are available.
Voice of America
05-02-2025
- Science
- Voice of America
Study Finds India's Tiger Population Doubled in 12 Years
A recent study says India has doubled its tiger population in 12 years. Researchers said the gain came from efforts to protect the big cats from hunters, and to protect against the loss of tiger habitat and prey, among other things. The National Tiger Conservation Authority said the number of tigers grew from an estimated 1,706 in 2010 to around 3,682 in 2022. Those numbers mean India is home to about 75 percent of the total tiger population. The research shows that a reduction in conflict between humans and wildlife also played a part in the population growth. The study credited efforts to improve economic conditions for communities near tiger habitats. The researchers said the growth in the tiger population also led to improvements in local economies through increased ecotourism. The study appears in the publication Science. It said India's success demonstrates that wildlife protection can help both biodiversity and nearby communities. 'The common belief is that human densities preclude an increase in tiger populations," said Yadvendradev Jhala. Jhala is a scientist at Bengaluru-based Indian National Academy of Sciences and was the study's lead writer. 'What the research shows is that it's not the human density, but the attitude of people, which matters more.' Wildlife conservationists and ecologists welcomed the study. But they said making the source data available to a larger group of scientists would aid tigers and other wildlife in India. The study was based on data collected by Indian government-supported organizations. Arjun Gopalaswamy is an ecologist who knows how to measure wildlife populations. He said that estimates from India's official tiger observation program have been undependable. He said some of the numbers in the study are much higher than past estimates of tiger populations from the same datasets. But he added that the study's findings seem to have corrected a data problem noted repeatedly by scientists since 2011 related to tiger population size and their range. The study said tigers disappeared in some areas. These included habitats that were not near national parks or other protected areas, and areas of increased development, increased human use of forest resources and areas with armed conflict. 'Without community support and participation and community benefits, conservation is not possible in our country,' said Jhala. That means local people need to see good results from their efforts to save tigers. Tigers are spread across about 138,200 square kilometers of India. But just 25 percent of the area is rich in tiger prey and is protected. Another 45 percent of tiger habitat is shared with about 60 million people, the study said. Jhala said strong wildlife protection legislation is the 'backbone' of tiger conservation in India. 'Habitat is not a constraint, it's the quality of the habitat which is a constraint,' he said. Wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam, who did not take part in the study, praised the tiger conservation efforts as promising. But, he said, such efforts need to be extended to other wild animals to better care for the whole ecosystem in India. Chellam said several kinds of Indian wildlife are 'on the edge,' and need more attention. I'm Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________________ Words in This Story habitat –n. the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally exists prey –n. an animal hunted or killed by another animal for food ecotourism –n. people who travel to and visit a place to see its natural beauty and wildlife biodiversity –n. biological variety in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals preclude –v. to make impossible by necessary consequence attitude –n. the visible behavior that shows how a person thinks or feels about something or someone conservationist –n. a person who works to preserve animals, plants and natural resources for future generations range –n. the area where a plant or animal naturally lives and can be found constraint –n. the state of being restricted participation – n. the action or state of taking part in something
