Project Tiger In India: Everything You Need To Know About The

Project Tiger

Background:

As the number of tigers is decreasing in a higher rate day by day, we need to take
proper preventive measures to save tigers from getting extinct. Numerous efforts
are being carried out to save different tiger species, and Project Tiger is an
important movement that aimed at the Wildlife conservation of tiger in India.

Project Tiger is an initiative by the Government of India; this project was

launched in 1973 and is still continuing. The much-needed project was launched
in Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand under the leadership of Indira Gandhi.
The objectives of the Project Tiger were clear- saving Bengal Tigers from getting
extinct.

Hence this project was started with the aim of saving the decreasing population
of tigers and ensuring that the population of Bengal tigers is well maintained in
their natural habitats. The government has also set up a tiger protecting force
that ensures there is no poaching of any kind or any human-tiger conflict. This
invariably will help in preventing tigers from being extinct.

Reason behind the depletion of tigers:

The main cause of the irdepletion is humans, and so all the conservation areas
are made human free. They made sure that the place that tigers lived in was also
safe and secure.

The Objectives of Project Tiger:

1. To ensure that any factor leading to the reduction of tiger habitats is limited.
2. Any damages done to these habitats should be repaired so that the ecosystem
is balanced.
3.  To maintain a viable tiger population through out the country.

India is home to around 50 reserves, which are all run by the Project Tiger.
The wildlife habitats that fall under Project Tiger are Shivalik-Terai conservation
unit, North East conservation unit, Sunderbans conservation unit, Western ghats
conservation unit, Eastern ghats conservation unit, Central India conservation
unit and Sariska conservation unit.

The success of Project Tiger:

Project Tiger has helped a lot in increasing the number of tigers in India. The
Indian Government and many NGOs stepped forward and joined hands to ensure
that the tiger population increases. And it did. In over a decade, India has seen a
consistent rise in the number of tigers.
Though the journey of increasing tiger population has not been so easy. Around
the 1970s the tiger count was only one thousand and two hundred, but according
to the recent census, there has been a thirty per cent rise in the population in the
last ten years.
This says a lot about the efforts put in by the government and the national parks.
While the entire world is looking for methods of increasing the number of tigers,
India has already started achieving milestones through Project Tiger.
From turning hunting grounds to tiger reserves, India has shown its efforts of
conserving wildlife in general. India also keeps updating the acts regarding forest
and wildlife from time to time. Any kind of illegal trading of animals has been
banned. Also, human interference in any of the tiger reserves and forests is not
allowed. A proper habitat has been created for the Tigers for their natural habitat
which will allow them to hunt, live and survive. The world has recognized this
project as one of the ‘Most successful project’.

How Project Tiger also helped in protecting other wild species?

After witnessing the success of Project Tiger, the government of India updated
the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. This made sure that vnot only tigers but,
other wildlife also gets protected. Gradually one by one, every national park took
an initiative to save endangered species. For, example: Gir National Park
conserves lions, and Kaziranga National Park conserves one-horned rhinos. This
project made people realize the importance of other wildlife as well.
As hunting and poaching was banned to save tigers, other animals were also
saved from the brutal clutches of the game. Eventually, the population of many
other animals started increasing. Tiger reserves also have various other animals.
So along with the tigers, even they are conserved.
All decisions taken in accordance with Project Tiger helped in the growth of
other species. Many national parks started having their own individual projects
too.
Government has now become more aware of the species that are depleting. The
awareness made them realize to do something about the other endangered
species as well. Now along with the tigers, all the other endangered species are
also being protected.

The Challenges faced by the government for Project Tiger:

Firstly, Project Tiger has to bear a lot of pressure and has to face many
challenges. Making Project Tiger into a successful piece of work, there are efforts
of various government officials. When the Project was initiated, it was difficult to
take off the lands that were used for hunting. Many didn’t like it and raised
objections. Nevertheless the project happened.

Secondly, another major challenge faced by the Government was poaching. Many
individuals use to sell tiger bones and skin to international markets. This was a
major business for them from where they earned good amount of money. After
all the initiatives taken by the project, they couldn’t stop illegal trading of animal
skin. Individuals used to break the law and sell them to international buyers.
This triggered the depletion of tigers. The government officials made strict law
and grounded the problem.
Thirdly, during constructing of national parks, sanctuaries and reserves, the
human population and settlement living over there faced a lot of problems and
therefore raised their voice against it. They passed out a Forest Rights Act in
which they stated that they wanted to have space for them as well and did not
want to move from their original area.

Conclusion:
Project Tiger has been undertaken by almost all the national parks, and every
park is putting an equal effort to save the tigers.
The wildlife has been facing fewer problems since the Project Tiger started.
Project Tiger has saved not only tigers but also saved other aspects of wildlife
and endangered species.
Increasing four thousand tigers in the past few years is one of the landmark
achievements of the project.
The project has made sure that tigers do not have to suffer because of selfish
human needs. Also, all the other animals that were depleting because of human
interference have stopped.
The national parks and sanctuaries are taking initiatives to save and conserve
every animal. Lately people have become more and more aware of the wildlife
problem and have taken steps to stop them from decreasing.