Tiger reserves in India are protected areas dedicated to the protection of tigers in the country. It is important to note that 70 percent of the tigers in the world are present in India. Tigers are considered to be a cardinal part of any forested area and ecosystem. Bengal tigers are known to be present at the top of the food chain. They have ecological, scientific, economic, aesthetic and cultural values. They have exceptional capability to catch prey. The count of tigers was 1,411 in the year 2006. This count increased to 1,706 in the year 2011, which further increased to 2,226 in the year 2014. The records of World Wildlife Fund and Global Tiger Forum highlight 3891 wild tigers in the year 2016.History of Tiger Reserves in India
When the tiger population was in danger, the Government of India tried to locate tigers in the dark areas of forests. Project Tiger was launched by the government in 1973 to save the endangered species called tigers. During 1973-1974, there were nine reserves in India. At present, there are 50 tiger reserves in India.
Management and Aim of Tiger Reserves in India
The state forestry departments handle about 53,547.5 square kilometers of the declared reserves in India. These reserves are administered under Project Tiger. Tiger reserves in India aim to maintain viable populations of Bengal tigers, which are dependent on protection. However, poaching and surreptitious killing of tigers is a major setback and a serious hindrance to the protective measures executed in the tiger reserves. Tiger reserves in India are upgraded and revamped at appropriate times, with the introduction of necessary inputs.
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