Wildlife Conservation:

Project Tiger
By Nirja Pal
GEOGRAPHY PROJECT(SE ACTIVITY)
 When was Project Tiger launched? 

• Project Tiger was launched in 1st April 1973.

• The Govt. of India had launched “Project Tiger” to promote
conservation of the tiger.
• Project Tiger has been the largest species conservation initiative of its
kind in the world
 Why was project tiger launched? 

Tiger is one of the key wildlife species in the faunal web. In 1973, government
authorities realised that the tiger population had dwindled to 1827 from an
estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century. The major threat to tiger population
include poaching for trade, shrinking habitat, depletion of prey based species,
growing human population and deforestation. Among these poaching for trade
of skins and bones is the primary reason behind dwindling of tiger population
to such an extent, that it is on the verge of extinction. The project tiger
conservation programme was initiated in 1973 in the Corbett national park of
Uttarakhand. As the tigers were endangered animals, there was a project on
them to save them. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal
tigers in their natural habitats, protecting them from extinction, and preserving
areas of biological importance as a natural heritage. 
 Objectives of Project Tiger

Project Tiger's main aims are to:

• Reduce factors that lead to the depletion, of tiger habitats and to mitigate
them by suitable management. The damages done to the habitat shall be
rectified to facilitate the recovery of the ecosystem to the maximum
possible extent.
• Ensure a viable tiger population for economic, scientific, cultural, aesthetic
and ecological values.
In other words, its main objective is to protect the Royal tiger from getting
Extinction as tiger is national animal of India and to secure them.
 International organizations and their role in
Project Tiger
• The Bengal tiger is the most common subspecies of tiger, constituting approximately 80% of the entire tiger population, and is
found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and India.  It has been hunted in these countries for centuries. Some International
organizations and their role in Project Tiger are as mentioned below:
• The Save the Tiger Fund-Panthera Partnership 
The Save the Tiger Fund and Panthera are two separate organisations that have recently joined forces for the good of the worlds
wild tigers. By combining their strengths, influence and experience, the STF-Panthera Partnership promises to be a most
influential one. Because most tigers die as a result of poaching and hunting, this organisation focuses on the stopping of such
activities, by whatever legal means are available to them. Their proven track records lend both of these entities significant sway in
the sphere of tiger conservation. 
• The Corbett Foundation 
The Corbett Foundation, or TCF, was established in 1994 by Mr Khatau, who was the owner of a very powerful business group,
The Khatau Business House. Although associated with textiles, he felt a strong passion for the preservation of nature, particularly
tigers. TCF is aimed at promoting environmental awareness, implementing sustainable eco-development, educating and uplifting
local communities and the effective management of wildlife conservation. By adopting such an inclusive and cohesive approach to
protecting the tigers, TCF ensures a longer-term solution to a very real problem.
• Big Cat Rescue 
This sanctuary, established in 1992, is dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of all of the big cat species that have been abused,
orphaned or abandoned. Many of these animals also come from circuses, in which they were required to perform. In addition to
homing and caring for these animals, the Big Cat Rescue team is also committed to educating people about these animals and
their value to us. This organisation is not only concerned with the animals within their own confines, but also those tigers (and
other big cats) in the wild.
• Project Tiger has succeeded in fulfilling its mandate and is one of the
most successful conservation programmes for a single species in the
entire world, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said on
Tuesday. He said that the number of tigers in the country within and
beyond tiger reserves is 2,226.