India's tiger population thrives with a 30 percent increase in occupancy

What can be termed as a positive news for the ongoing conservation efforts for the Royal Bengal Tiger in India a study published in a scientific journal highlights that the tiger occupancy increased by 3037 at 2929 square kilometers per year over the past two decades leading to the largest global population occupying approximately 138200 square kilometersThe study named Tiger recovery amid people and poverty was published in a scientific journal Science The lead author of the study is Yadvendra V Jhala Ninad Avinash Mungi Rajesh Gopal and Qamar QureshiTiger occupancy increased by 3037 at 2929 square kilometers per year over the past two decades leading to the largest global population occupying 138200 square kilometers Tigers persistently occupied humanfree preyrich protected areas 35255 square kilometers but also colonized proximal connected habitats that were shared with 60 million people the study statesThe study also highlights the fact that tiger absence and extinction were characterized by armed conflict poverty and extensive landuse changesSparing land for tigers enabled land sharing provided that socioeconomic prosperity and political stability prevailed Indiarsquos tiger recovery offers cautious optimism for megafauna recovery particularly in the Global South the study observedAccording to research the recovery of large carnivores poses an immense challenge in the Anthropocene a period marked by biodiversity loss The Living Planet Report published in 2024 shows an average 7337 decline in wildlife populations worldwide since 1970 However Indiarsquos tiger recovery stands as a bright spot demonstrating how scientific strategies and sociopolitical stability can align to achieve remarkable successA new study published in the scientific magazine Science shows that over the past two decades the tigerrsquos range has increased by 3037 in India making it home to 7537 of the global population Researchers who are a part of the study feel that this success story offers important lessons for biodiversity conservation in densely populated and economically diverse regionsThe researchers also feel that there are challenges of sustaining large carnivoresLarge carnivores such as tigers face numerous threats including habitat destruction poaching fueled by international demand and bushmeat consumption and escalating humanwildlife conflict Historically tigers roamed across Eurasia but have been extirpated from over 9037 of their historical range By 2000 the global wild tiger population had dwindled to just 3600 individuals According to experts sustaining their recovery requires expansive habitats abundant prey and a culture of coexistence with humans ndash a daunting task in regions grappling with poverty armed conflict and rapid urbanizationThe researchers are of opinion that Indiarsquos tiger recovery illustrates a strategic blend of land sparing and land sharing Protected areas such as tiger reserve cores and national parks devoid of human use have been managed to maintain highdensity tiger populations land sparing Achieving this involved voluntary relocation of human settlements in exchange for financial compensation and support for new livelihoods The important fact is that these largely humanfree areas now sustain 8537 of viable breeding populationsThe authors of the study feel that due to these source populations tigers have dispersed and expanded into multiuse forests and coexist with humans This dispersal has been facilitated by habitat corridors and ecofriendly landuse practices Currently tigers share space with over 66 million people demonstrating the feasibility of coexistence land sharing These efforts were bolstered by substantial government investments scientific management community engagement and a culture of coexistence according to the researchersThe governance and policies including IndiarsquoWildlife Protection Act Forest Conservation Act and the establishment of the National Tiger Conservation Authority seems to have ensured the protection of tiger habitats and streamlined evidencebased conservation actionsLaws prohibit the killing of wildlife implement safeguards against habitat divergence for development and enforce mitigation measures to counter undesirable impacts of essential diversions The study notes that diluting these legal instruments can have longterm detrimental ramifications for tigers their ecosystems and ecosystem servicesThe other factor that have played an important role of the scientific monitoring and managementAccording to the researchers of the study protecting extensive habitats of desirable quality and abundant prey species were critical for tiger persistence Habitat corridors connecting protected areas have further facilitated the dispersal and gene flow between tiger populations enabling them to recolonize historical ranges Thus recovery of tigers necessitates the conservation and recovery of prey and habitats ndash a task that requires robust science and meticulous management Since 2006 India monitors around 320000 kmsup2 every four years to understand the changes in tigers their prey habitat quality and anthropogenic pressures This monitoring has generated one of the worldrsquos largest systematic data on wildlife Arising inferences are incorporated into policy and management to optimize conservation decisions as documented in this paperOne of the most distinct messages of the Science paper was that beyond the ecological need for prey and habitat tiger recovery also depends on longterm peace and prosperityThe researchers have found that regions with socioeconomic prosperity have witnessed higher tiger colonization rates due to lower dependence on forest resources by communities sustained resources invested in habitat management and conflict mitigation Conversely areas with high poverty levels such as parts of Odisha Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have experienced higher extinction rates due to dependence on bushmeat and other extractive natural resource uses Similarly areas with forest loss to urbanization coincided with tiger absence and extinctions the study states adding Thus a middle path of sustainable livelihoods and communityinclusive development is important for enabling tiger recovery Communities living near tiger reserves benefit from ecotourism revenuesharing programs and compensation for wildlifeinduced losses These measures have fostered a sense of ownership among local populations enhancing tolerance and minimizing poaching Thus tigers bring economic opportunities which if strategically tapped can enhance tiger recoveryThe study also highlights that armed conflicts as seen in the Naxalaffected regions of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have contributed to tiger extinctions and absence These areas often suffer from weakened governance and socioeconomic challenges creating conditions conducive to poaching of tigers and their prey Once peace prevails and socioeconomic opportunities are fostered tigers recover as documented in Manas Tiger Reserve and Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve mentions the study adding that politically stable regions have benefited from longterm conservation programs demonstrating that peace and prosperity are integral to wildlife recoveryChallenges and future directionsDespite Indiarsquos success several challenges remain Key habitats in Chhattisgarh Odisha and Jharkhand covering approximately 157000 kmsup2 remain devoid of tigers highlighting opportunities for focused recovery efforts Strategies such as socioeconomic upliftment of forestdwelling communities prey and tiger reintroduction programs and habitat restoration are essential for these regions Moreover protected areas alone are insufficient without addressing political stability and socioeconomic prosperity Communities enabling tiger conservation must derive tangible benefits for effective recoveryThe broader impact of Tiger conservationTiger recovery has farreaching implications for biodiversity and ecosystem services Tigers as umbrella species support the conservation of cooccurring megafauna like leopards dholes megaherbivores as well as prey species and habitats Protected tiger landscapes contribute to carbon sequestration climate regulation and biotic resistance to invasive species The success of tiger conservation in India underscores the role of apex predators in maintaining ecological complexity and services for future generationsThe researchers feel that Indiarsquos tiger recovery serves as a model for other regions facing similar challenges It demonstrates that humancarnivore coexistence is achievable through meticulous governance cultural acceptance and economic incentives This paradigm offers hope for conserving other large carnivores in the Global South where biodiversity hotspots intersect with socioeconomic complexitiesRekindling hope for a biodiverse AnthropoceneScientist and conservationist Yadvendradev V Jhala said Indiarsquos tiger recovery showcases the resilience of nature and the transformative potential of collective human action It exemplifies how science policy and economic benefits to communities can converge to achieve conservation goals despite adversity such as poverty human density and developmentAs the world grapples with the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change Indiarsquos tiger story rekindles hope for a biodiverse Anthropocene It reminds us that protecting apex predators is not just about saving a single species ndash it is about safeguarding the intricate web of life that sustains our planet By prioritizing conservation sustainable socioeconomics and a culture of peace and coexistence we can pave the way for maintaining a biodiverse future