The tigers escaped him beautifully. If there were 100 000 a century ago, there were only 1 411 individuals in 2006. A steady fall in numbers that we owe to human activities. Mainly because of habitat loss, due to land clearing, and intensive poaching. In recent years, however, real awareness is being established, and important means of protection have been put in place. These efforts are paying off. Witness the situation in India.
+33% in 4 years
It is the prime minister himself, Narendra Modi, who announced the news on Twitter. While there were 2,226 individuals in 2014, the authorities had 2,967 individuals four years later, in 2018. This represents a one-third increase in the workforce. India now hosts 70% of the world’s tiger population. Other subspecies also evolve in China, Russia, Thailand, or Indonesia, but these populations are still very feverish.
“The results of the tiger census just released make all Indians, and all nature lovers, happy,” said Prime Minister Modi. Nine years ago, it was decided in St. Petersburg that the goal of doubling the tiger population would be reached in 2022. In India, we achieved this goal four years earlier. “
Protect the natural habitat of the tiger
To achieve these goals, the Indian government has focused on the protection of its lands, to provide animals with safe, natural environments free from human activities. “In five years, the number of protected areas has increased from 692 to more than 860 and community reserves from 43 to more than 100,” notes the premier. Today, we can say with pride that with nearly 3,000 tigers, India is one of the largest and safest habitats in the world. “
Recall that the situation is also improving in Nepal, thanks to these same conservation efforts. The country had an estimated tiger population of 235 in 2018, nearly double the 121 specimens recorded in 2009.
So positive signs, and a glimmer of hope for this carnivore who, it is recalled, did not go very far from extinction. It is nevertheless necessary to continue these efforts in order to reverse this incredible trend: there are still more pet tigers in the United States today than wild tigers in the world.
