58th Tiger Reserve of India

 India now has 58 tiger reserves, with the latest being Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh, declared in March 2025.

•  The country is home to approximately 3,681 tigers, occupying around 89,000 sq. km of habitat.

Project Tiger

• Launched in April 1973, following the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• Initially started with nine reserves to maintain a viable tiger population and preserve their habitat.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established for oversight after amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act in 2005-06.

Purpose of Tiger Reserves

•  Reserves create a "core" area where human activities are restricted and a "buffer zone" for limited human activity.
• Aimed at protecting tigers and their habitats from deforestation and poaching.

Tiger Distribution and Population

• Largest populations found in Corbett (260), Bandipur (150), and Madhya Pradesh (785).
• Recent studies show a 30% increase in the area occupied by tigers from 2006 to 2018.
• Only 25% of tiger habitats are in core areas, with 20% in buffer zones.

Challenges Facing Tiger Reserves

•  27 reserves have low tiger density; 16 reserves report no tigers or very few.
• Concerns in states like Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh due to socio-economic issues, political instability, and development pressures.
• Local extinction noted in reserves like Satkosia in Odisha.

Conclusion

• The establishment of new reserves like Madhav is crucial for tiger conservation.
• Ongoing challenges require focused efforts in habitat protection, socio-economic development, and political stability to ensure the survival of tiger populations in India.

Link To The Original Article – https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/one-more-tiger-reserve-why-india-needs-them-the-challenges-some-face-9889754/