IFAW: Increase in India’s tiger population reported

(New Delhi – March 28, 2011) – India has reported an increase in its tiger population, with the latest estimate putting the figures at 1,706 tigers, compared to 1,411 in the last estimate released in 2008.

The new figure was revealed by the Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, releasing the All India Tiger Estimation report, at the International Conference on Tiger Conservation (ICTC) that began today (Mon) in the Indian capital.

“The number of 1,411 is now replaced by 1,636; if we see like for like it is a 12% increase,” said the Minister. He also added that the 1,706 figure came from new areas included in the latest survey, which significantly includes Sunderbans which has an average population of 70 tigers.

Azzedine Downes, Executive Vice President of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), said: “During the St Petersburg meet in Russia last year, the range countries had committed to the global goal of doubling the world’s wild tiger population by 2022. India’s population increase is a development in that direction. This does not indicate that tigers in India, or in the other tiger range countries are less threatened now, but it is definitely an indication that we have the ability to attain this global goal.”

The current two-day conference has been organised by the Indian government in collaboration with the inter-governmental Global Tiger Forum (GTF) and the World Bank’s Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) to discuss challenges, plans and priorities for implementing the Global Tiger Recovery Programme, which aims to double the wild tiger population by 2022. Participants include leaders from all 13 tiger range countries, scientists and conservationists from NGOs.

Authorities have attributed the increase in tiger population to a number of factors including better enforcement and habitat protection, as well as greater awareness. Additionally, a lot more areas that were excluded in the 2008 estimation, were covered in the latest census. The methodology used was more scientific and uniform throughout the country and was coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Ends

For more information or to arrange interviews please contact Clare Sterling at IFAW on 020 7587 6708, mobile 07917 507717 or email csterling@ifaw.org

Notes to Editors – In addition to the release of the tiger estimation report, the first day of the ICTC also saw the launch of the second edition of Action Tiger, a compilation of updated National Tiger Action Plans (NTAPs) of all 13 tiger range countries (TRC). The NTAPs establish a holistic but focussed and achievable conservation strategy which lays out specific action plans towards an overarching vision of securing viable tiger populations in the respective TRCs.

The publication, compiled by the GTF, IFAW and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) will be useful for stakeholders including funding agencies, supporting non-tiger range countries, NGOs and concerned individuals to identify areas requiring focus for appropriate interventions.

IFAW-WTI is helping coordinate a unified approach to tiger conservation by bringing together all TRCs through support to the GTF and the GTI. IFAW-WTI has also been implementing a number of projects in India to enhance tiger conservation efforts. These include capacity building of frontline staff of the state Forest Departments, rescue and rehabilitation, mitigating human-tiger conflicts and promoting and facilitating trans-boundary cooperation.

IFAW also supports tiger conservation activities in other tiger range countries including Russia and China.