Tiger reserves of India


There are 50 tiger reserves in India which are governed by Project Tiger which is administrated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
India is home to 80 percent of tigers in the world. In 2006, there were 1,411 tigers which increased to 1,706 in 2010, 2,226 in 2014 and 2967 in 2018. The Indian increase played a big role in driving up global populations as well; the number of wild tigers globally rose from 3,159 in 2010 to 3,890 in 2016 according to World Wildlife Fund and Global Tiger Forum.

Goals

of declared reserves are operated by state forestry departments "to ensure maintenance of viable populations of the conservation dependent Bengal tigers in India". The tigers are maintained for their scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values and to preserve for all time areas of biological importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people."

Population assessment

By the year 2018, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, there were estimated only 2,967 tigers in existence in India. The 2010 National Tiger Assessment estimated the total population of tigers in India at 1,706. As per Ministry of Environment and Forests, the tiger population in India stood at 2,226 in 2014 with an increase of 30.5% since the 2010 estimate. This exhaustive study indicated that better protected tiger source sites, especially tiger reserves, have maintained viable populations. However, the area occupied by tigers outside protected areas has decreased considerably. This demonstrates the need for corridors in order for tigers to move between source sites. The existing tiger reserves represent around one-third of India's high density forest area. More tigers were killed in the first quarter of 2016 than in the entire previous year. This significant revelation comes at a time when the tiger census numbers are disputed by the scientific community. Some tigers get tamed and poorly fed by owners.
In 2010-11, the National Tiger Conservation Authority in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India undertook an independent management effectiveness evaluation of the 49 tiger reserves in the country. The reserves were categorized into four major categories. Madhya pradesh has the highest number of tigers in the age group of 1.5 years with more than 408 big cats. Other states with significant populations included Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Assam, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.

List of Tiger reserves

Si No.Tiger Reserve StatePopulation of tigers, 2014
1Bandipur Karnataka120
2Corbett Uttarakhand215
3Kanha Madhya Pradesh80
4Manas Assam11
5Melghat Maharashtra25
6Palamau Jharkhand3
7Ranthambore Rajasthan37
8Similipal Odisha3
9Sunderbans West Bengal68
10Periyar Kerala20
11Sariska Rajasthan9
12Buxa West Bengal2
13Indravati Chhattisgarh12
14Namdapha Arunachal Pradesh11
15Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh58
16Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tamil Nadu10
17Valmiki Bihar40
18Pench Madhya Pradesh43
19Tadoba-Andhari Maharashtra51
20Bandhavgarh Madhya Pradesh63
21Panna Madhya Pradesh17
22Dampa Mizoram3
23Bhadra Karnataka22
24Pench Maharashtra35
25Pakke or Pakhui Arunachal Pradesh7
26Nameri Assam5
27Satpura Madhya Pradesh26
28Anamalai Tamil Nadu13
29Udanti-Sitanadi Chhattisgarh4
30Satkosia Odisha3
31Kaziranga Assam103
32Achanakmar Chhattisgarh11
33Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve Karnataka5
34Sanjay-Dubri Madhya Pradesh8
35Mudumalai Tamil Nadu89
36Nagarahole Karnataka101
37Parambikulam Kerala19
38Sahyadri Maharashtra7
39Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Karnataka68
40Kawal Telangana-
41Sathyamangalam Tamil Nadu72
42Mukandra Hills Rajasthan-
43Nawegaon-Nagzira Maharashtra7
44Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Andhra Pradesh74
45Amrabad Telangana-
46Pilibhit Uttar Pradesh25
47Bor Maharashtra5
48Rajaji Uttarakhand-
49Orang Assam-
50Kamlang Arunachal Pradesh1

Future

In addition to existing reserves, the in-principle approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for the creation of four new tiger reserves, and the sites are: Ratapani Tiger Reserve, Sunabeda Tiger Reserve, and Guru Ghasidas. Final approval has been accorded to Kudremukh National Park for declaring as tiger reserves by States. The State Governments have been advised to send proposals for declaring the following areas as tiger reserves: Suhelwa, Mhadei Sanctuary, Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary / Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary / Varushanadu Valley, Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary and Cauvery-MM Hills.