Tiger Populations on the Rise in India

It has been published this week that the India’s wild tiger population has risen by more than 30% in the last the four years alone due to the excellent conservation work that has been put in place and made a priority by the nation’s government. These figures and statistics are outstanding and historic in today’s ever changing and challenging climate. The census found there were around 2,226 tigers back in 2015 in the wild and that has risen in the short time to around 2,967; this might not seem a vast amount, but this is a huge success and achievement for conservation worldwide and a positive step in the right direction. Preserving endangered species at this rate is at the forefront of tackling global warming, climate change and any conservation issues that are happening around us every single day.

Although this is fantastic news, there is some caution and worry around the numbers and information that has been produced recently. Once a tiger has reached adulthood, they have to be able disband and find their own territory to thrive. An increase in the population may cause problems as their habitats are increasingly being invaded and destroyed for development and industrial projects. Conflict for land will not only occur between individual tigers but will arise between humans and tigers also. This animosity between man and cat has occurred before, due to tigers killing humans or their cattle. This in the past has driven the communities to leave poison traps or to kill the animals in order to protect themselves and their livelihoods.

My thoughts…

The efforts made by India’s government are forward thinking and inspiring and it definitely shows in the figures. I think more world leaders and administration's around the world should take urgent action to improve the survival and reproduction of all species and tackle any major climate issues around the world today. Also, the communities close to the tiger populations in India must find a way to co-exist with these species and the habitats should become protected area’s for the animals in order for them to succeed as a species.