- Purpose: A major wildlife conservation program launched to save the Bengal tiger from extinction.
- Crisis: Initiated after the tiger population dropped from ~40,000 (1900) to a critical low of ~1,800 (1972) due to hunting and habitat loss.
- Launch Date: April 1, 1973.
Core Objectives
- To maintain a viable population of tigers in India for their scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural, and ecological values.
- To preserve areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the benefit, education, and enjoyment of the people.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Role: The main governing body for Project Tiger.
- Established: December 2005.
- Legal Status: Became a statutory authority under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2006.
- Key Functions: Approves state conservation plans, sets guidelines, provides funding, coordinates anti-poaching efforts, and monitors reserves.
Tiger Reserve Structure
- Declaration: Notified by the State Government on the recommendation of the NTCA.
- Zones:
- Core Zone: Critical tiger habitat, kept free from human activity for undisturbed breeding. (Note on Tribal Rights: Relocation from core areas is legally protected by the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and can only be done voluntarily with a full rehabilitation package.)
- Buffer Zone: Surrounds the core area. Promotes co-existence through eco-tourism and community participation to reduce pressure on the core zone.
Growth & Monitoring
- Initial Reserves (1973): Started with 9 reserves.
- Current Reserves (2025): 58 notified reserves. The latest is the Madhav Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
- Tiger Census: The All India Tiger Estimation is conducted every four years.
- Traditional Method: Pugmark Census Technique (analyzing footprints).
- Modern Methods: Camera trapping (identifying unique stripe patterns) and DNA analysis of scat.
- Latest Population (2022 Census): 3,682 tigers in India.
Key Facts
- Scientific Name: Panthera tigris.
- Unique Stripes: No two tigers have the same stripe pattern.
- Behavior: Largely solitary animals.
- Global Standard: Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) is a global accreditation for high standards of tiger conservation, awarded to several Indian reserves.