Fifty Years of Project Tiger!

The author looks back to the beginnings of Project Tiger, its results, and what must be our way forward in the future.

India's 'Project Tiger', a one-of-its-kind tiger conservation programme established by any country, completed 50 years on 1st April 2023. This programme was launched by the Government of India to halt the dwindling tiger numbers, which by the 1960s had suffered around 96% decline from a population of 40,000 tigers estimated to be inhabiting India's forests at the turn of the 20th century. Decades of indiscriminate hunting and poaching coupled with accelerating habitat loss were the primary reasons for this steep decline in tiger numbers. Scientists and conservationists rung the alarm bells and warned of the extinction of this majestic large cat from India if stern measures were not taken.

The IU CN's 10th General Assembly held in New Delhi in 1969, and which was attended by the then-Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi, passed a resolution appealing the Government of India to impose a complete ban on the hunting of tigers, take appropriate measures to prevent poaching and encourage tourism in protected areas. Fortunately, this SOS advice was heeded to and in 1970, India imposed a complete ban on the hunting of tigers, initially for five years. This was followed by the enactment of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WLPA) in 1972 that paved way for the establishment of tiger reserves, among many other measures for wildlife protection and conservation.

WWF’s initial funding support, through Operation Tiger Programme, helped the Government of India to launch the ‘Project Tiger’ in nine protected areas (Bandipur, Corbett, Kanha, Manas, Melghat, Palamau, Ranthambhor, Simlipal and Sunderban), covering an area of around around 9,100 sq.km. in 1973. In the past 50 years, India has declared 53 tiger reserves spread over 75,796 sq.km. in 18 states occupying around 2.3% of India’s geographical area.