Project Tiger in India

Project Tiger was incorporated in 1973 with nine tiger reserves

covering an area of 16,339 sq.km., which has increased to
37,761 sq.km. in 27 Tiger Reserves. The budgetary provision of
the Government of India during 1973 was only Rs. 23 million,
which has increased to 230 million during 2000-2001.

In the beginning of the 1970s, once tiger hunting had officially

been banned in India, a tiger count was done across the entire
country. This lead to the astonishing discovery that only 1800
specimens of this magnificent animal were left. This jolted the
concerned authorities and some serious thought went into devising plans to save the tiger. The
result was the launch of "Project Tiger" in 1972 at the Dhikala Forest Rest House in Corbett
National Park. The main idea behind the project was to provide safe havens for tigers where they
could flourish as a species and hopefully reverse the startling decline in their population. The
project initially had 9 parks that were chosen for it's implementation. This number has slowly
risen and a total of 19 parks are now attached to the project. The project was begun in association
with and still receives its main funding from the WWF.

Although the experts affirm that the project has its shortcomings, the increase in the populations
of the tiger is clearly evident to even the common man. Many experts had predicted that the tiger
would be extinct by the turn of the century, but, whoever may be responsible, the tiger has
proudly proved them wrong. Tiger population may not still be in thrilling numbers and poaching
still may be quite rampant but a lot more effort is being put into saving this beautiful animal.
This is good news for the entire natural treasure of the country because if the tiger flourishes, so
will the jungle and vice-versa.

Project Tiger Reserves in India:

- Bandhavgarh
- Kalakad-Mundanthurai - Pench (Madhya Pradesh)
- Bandipur
- Kanha - Pench (Maharashtra)
- Bhadra
- Manas - Periyar
- Buxa
- Melghat - Ranthambhore
- Corbett
- Nagarjunasagar - Sariska
- Dampa
- Namdapha - Similipal
- Dudhwa
- Palamau - Sundarbans
- Indravati
- Panna - Tadoba-Andhari
- Valmiki

Problems faced by Tiger Reserves:

Legend & Lore: In India tiger skins were & are still valued by
black magicians as a seat during meditation. In China, various
parts of tiger's body, from its collar bone to its whiskers, find
wide variety of applications in medicine. Thus poaching &
smuggle of tigers are the results of which.
Extractive Industries like mining & manufacturing units: such as power plants cannot
coexist with either the tiger or its prey species. The insidious encroachment of development
projects on the reserves represents an irreversible ecological transition.

The relationship with the local villagers: is the "weak spot" of the entire project. Villagers
were relocated from the core areas of the tiger reserves without providing them alternative access
for grazing or fuel collection.