Talking of the country from a global perspective, if India were to be ever represented or examined through a montage of popular images, then perhaps through this lively and regale creature, the country would find hundreds of thousands of eyeballs.
The famous striped animal represents India just as well as the world’s largest democracy’s myriad cultures, cultures, festivities, and culinary extravaganzas.
But when you talk of the country from a national perspective, then no discussion can ever be complete without touching upon divergent but vital population counts. First is, the overall human population of the country. And the other is the tiger population of India.
The tiger population of India, it could be said, is something that’s often been the subject of heated debates. It’s also a sensitive topic that’s managed to meet serious eyebrows and tense faces. For the national animal’s dwindling populations and uncertain life has often courted controversies, people going as far as labeling the country a ‘failure’ in its bid to protect an animal that’s part of mythology, history, and popular culture.
But that said, where the recent reports stand, it appears that the tiger population of India has improved somewhat. Would you believe that? Did you think you’d hear this?
Apparently, the last survey was conducted in 2014. Back then, the total number of tigers, according to national figures, were said to be 2,226.
This number, however, improved it would’ve seemed to some still put forth a concern; that India hadn’t really achieved its target of doubling the tiger population as was eventually set to achieve.
But here’s a piece of data that comes in as a welcome respite beating the concern all around. According to the tiger count maintained by the hon’ble government of India, the tiger population has actually been on the rise since 2006.
This basically means that even if a goal wasn’t achieved in a certain period of time- principally, half a decade- when examined from over a period of a decade, then the population count seems normal and not that concerning.
Now, one might ask what the population of the large cats was back in 2006? Well, it was 1,411. Which is why, when you examine the 2014 figures, you aren’t really let down. The principal body entrusted with the task of conducting the tiger survey in India is the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
Its job is the provide the details regarding the number of tigers as found in the 18 tiger reign states, with 50 tiger reserves.
But now, this time, when the results of the national census are out, they would also include the results as gathered from the rough terrains of the north-east of the country, something that wasn’t possible the last time around owing to some logistical constraints.
The digital system used for the process of tiger counting is known as M-STRipes, a GIS-based app.
Popular national media LiveMint happened to elaborate more on the following and shared:
The entire exercise spanned over four years is considered to be world’s largest wildlife survey effort in terms of coverage and intensity of sampling. Over 15,000 cameras were installed at various strategic points to capture the movement of tigers. This was supported by extensive data collected by field personnel and satellite mapping.
That 2022, the next when the national census results will be out isn’t that far away in the future. While the tiger population may not have exactly doubled shouldn’t discourage the nation simply because in a complete reverse of fortunes as seen in the past, at least somewhere the tiger population has started increasing in the very country where the wild cats are numbered.