Official Tiger Numbers
20 July, 2009
|
Official Tiger Numbers
New Delhi, July 20
Rajya Sabha: replies from Minister of Environment and Forests, to questions
As per the findings of the recent All India tiger estimation in 2008 using the refined methodology, the total country-level population of tiger is 1411 (mid value); the lower and upper limits being 1165 and 1657 respectively, as indicated in Annexure-I. The new findings are based on spatial occupancy of tigers and sampling such forests using camera traps in a statistical framework, which are not comparable to the earlier total count using pugmarks. The said findings indicate a poor status of tiger population in areas outside tiger reserves and protected areas. The tiger population, by and large, in tiger reserves and protected areas of the 17 tiger States are viable, while requiring ongoing conservation efforts.
An area of 29284.762 sq. km. has been notified by 15 Tiger States (out of 17) as core or critical tiger habitat under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which also includes an area of 2527 sq.km. pertaining to the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh. Under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger, funding support is given to tiger States, including Andhra Pradesh, for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.
Annexure-I
Forest occupancy and population estimates of tiger as per the refined methodology
State |
Tiger km2 |
Tiger Numbers |
No. |
Lower limit |
Upper limit |
Shivalik-Gangetic Plain Landscape Complex |
Uttarakhand |
1901 |
178 |
161 |
195 |
Uttar Pradesh |
2766 |
109 |
91 |
127 |
Bihar |
510 |
10 |
7 |
13 |
Shivalik-Gangetic |
5177 |
297 |
259 |
335 |
Central Indian Landscape Complex and Eastern Ghats Landscape Complex |
Andhra Pradesh |
14126 |
95 |
84 |
107 |
Chattisgarh |
3609 |
26 |
23 |
28 |
Madhya Pradesh |
15614 |
300 |
236 |
364 |
Maharashtra |
4273 |
103 |
76 |
131 |
Orissa |
9144 |
45 |
37 |
53 |
Rajasthan |
356 |
32 |
30 |
35 |
Jharkhand** |
1488 |
Not Assessed |
Central Indian |
48610 |
601 |
486 |
718 |
Western Ghats Landscape Complex |
Karnataka |
18715 |
290 |
241 |
339 |
Kerala |
6168 |
46 |
39 |
53 |
Tamil Nadu |
9211 |
76 |
56 |
95 |
Western Ghats |
34094 |
412 |
336 |
487 |
North East Hills and Brahmaputra Flood Plains |
Assam* |
1164 |
70 |
60 |
80 |
Arunachal Pradesh* |
1685 |
14 |
12 |
18 |
Mizoram* |
785 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
Northern West Bengal* |
596 |
10 |
8 |
12 |
North East Hills, and Brahmaputra |
4230 |
100 |
84 |
118 |
Sunderbans |
1586 |
Not Assessed |
Total Tiger Population |
|
1411 |
1165 |
1657 |
* Population estimates are based on possible density of tiger occupied landscape in the area, not assessed by double sampling.
** Data was not amenable to population estimation of tiger. However, available information about the landscape indicates low densities of tiger in the area ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 per 100 km2.
Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Shri Mohd. Ali Khan in Rajya Sabha today.
Rajya Sabha
The Government has enhanced the relocation package for villages in the core area of tiger reserves. The ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger has been revised to include, interalia, an enhanced village relocation package (from Rs. 1.00 lakh/per family to Rs. 10.00 lakhs/per family), for relocation of villages from the core/critical tiger habitat of a Tiger Reserve, identified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 towards providing inviolate space to tiger population.
Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Smt. Brinda Karat in Rajya Sabha today.
|
