Context:
As India’s tiger population has reached 3,682, the Centre has identified 25 priority tiger reserves for habitat recovery, prey restoration and possible targeted reintroductions. The focus is shifting from merely increasing tiger numbers to balancing tiger conservation across landscapes.
Explanation:
- India’s tiger population rose from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2022, but growth is uneven.
- Some tiger reserves like Corbett, Bandipur and Kaziranga act as source populations, with high tiger density, good prey base and suitable habitat.
- Several reserves are sink populations, with poor prey, weak connectivity or very low breeding tiger presence.
- Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of tigers a habitat can sustainably support.
- Overcrowded reserves push tigers into buffer areas, farms and villages, increasing human-wildlife conflict.
- Tiger recovery needs habitat quality, prey abundance, protection and landscape connectivity.
- A connected tiger landscape supports metapopulation, dispersal and genetic exchange.
- Reintroduction means bringing tigers back to areas where they disappeared; it is used only as a last resort after scientific assessment.
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Tiger Reserve Restoration in India Explained