Tiger Census 2022
Why in news:
- The tiger population in India grew by 200 from 2018 to 2022, according to the fifth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation (2022) released April 9, 2023.
- The number of tigers in India was 3,167 in 2022, up from 2,967 in 2018, the report showed.
- The growth, however, slowed to 6.7 per cent in these four years from around 33 per cent during 2014-2018, analysis of the latest data showed.
- The report was released at an event organised to commemorate 50 years of ‘Project Tiger’ in Karnataka’s Mysuru by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also launched the International Big Cats Alliance the same day.
Findings of the survey:
- The tiger census covered forested habitats in 20 states of India.
- The Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains saw a significant increase in the tiger population, according to the latest census.
- The highest number (1,161) of tigers were photographed in the Central Indian Highlands and Eastern Ghats in 2022.
- The big cat was found to occupy several territorial areas of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashta, which were not occupied in 2018, according to the report.
- Tiger occupancy in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana showed a decline.
- Tigers were locally extirpated from Kawal tiger reserve and Chennur of Telangana, Sri Venkateswara National park in Andhra Pradesh, Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha, Sahyadri Tiger reserve from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
- Tiger occupancy in the Western Ghats declined, the latest analysis showed. The number of individuals photographed in the region was 824.
Syllabus: Prelims + Mains; GS III – Environment