By Udbhav Bhargava
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have conducted a nationwide assessment of the tiger population and habitat of the country every four years since 2006.
2018 CENSUS
The survey’s fourth iteration, conducted in 2018–19, has been the most comprehensive to date, both in terms of resource and data amassed. Camera traps (outdoor photographic devices fitted with motion sensors that begin recording when an animal moves by) were installed at 26,838 locations across 141 sites and surveyed an effective area of 121,337 square kilometres. In total, 34,858,623 photos of wildlife were taken by camera traps (76,651 of which were tigers, and 51,777 were leopards; the rest were other native fauna). The survey was awarded Guiness World Record for largest camera trap wildlife survey.
FOOT SURVEY
The 2018 “Status of Tigers in India” assessment also conducted comprehensive foot surveys that covered 522,996 km of trails and tested 317,958 habitat plots for vegetation and prey dung. It’s reported that the total area of forest surveyed was 381,200 km2 (147,181 sq mi) and cumulatively the compilation and analysis of data equated to some 620,795 labour-days. The assessment was performed over three phases, then the various datasets were combined to be extrapolated via statistical computation, informing the final results reported in the survey report.
Region Tiger Population (2014 Census)
1. Western Ghats 776
2. Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats 688
3. Shivalik Gangetic Plain 485
India 2226
Region Tiger Population (2018 Census)
1. Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats 1033
2. Western Ghats 981
3. Shivalik Gangetic Plain 646 India 2967
In 2018–19, ground surveys and camera traps recorded tiger presence in 88,985 square kilometers of forests across 20 Indian states. The biggest chunk of tiger population has been reported in Madhya Pradesh (526), Karnataka (524), and Uttarakhand (442) states. Together, there were 1,492 tigers in those three Indian nations. The highest jump in Tiger population was witnessed in Madhya Pradesh (71%), followed by Maharashtra (64%) and Karnataka (29%). Th worst performers were Chhattisgarh and Mizoram that reported a decline in the overall population of tigers. Pench Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh and Periyar of Kerala, emerged as the country’s best-managed tiger reserves.
INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN THE SURVEYS
National Tiger Conservation Authority was launched in 2005, following recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. Given statutory status by 2006 amendment of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change is the Chairman of the NTCA. Wildlife Institute Of India is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change, was established in 1982.
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