STRIPING A BALANCE
The year 2024 brought good news about tigers globally. From the increasing population of tigers to the awe-inspiring tiger reintroduction projects, the signs of recovery are undeniable. At a time when the 2024 Living Planet Report highlighted catastrophic biodiversity declines, the success of tiger conservation brings hope for the future of wildlife and our planet.
The Tigers Alive Annual Report 2024, released last week, showcases tangible progress in tiger conservation globally. The successes are not isolated but due to decades of hard work, strategic investment and unwavering commitment from tiger range country governments, WWF and partners worldwide. Importantly, they are also a testament to the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose knowledge, stewardship and active involvement in conservation efforts are irreplaceable.
In India, increasing tiger numbers in various Protected Areas and Reserved Forests have emerged as a positive indicator of adequate wildlife protection and ecosystem restoration efforts. WWF-India has been working with state forest departments and other stakeholders across six conservation landscapes, encompassing 20 Protected Areas, Forest Divisions, and numerous corridors. Regular monitoring indicates progress towards tiger population recovery in several key sites, including Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, Achanakmar in Chhattisgarh, Anamalai in Kerala, and Rajaji in Uttarakhand. Conservation efforts have also been strategically extended to new areas like Karbi Anglong in Assam and the Godavari Landscape in Telangana.
Collaborative efforts to restore and protect wildlife corridors are a cornerstone of WWF-India's tiger conservation efforts. WWF-India works closely with the National Highway Authority of India, the forest departments of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and other stakeholders to advocate for mitigation structures along roads to be built in wildlife corridors and other forest areas and to ensure safe passage for wildlife along some of India's busiest highways. These interventions are crucial to maintaining landscape connectivity.
WWF-India has signed MoUs with the state governments of Chattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to support conservation efforts to strengthen evidence-based tiger conservation and advance the recovery of tigers and wild ungulates. The focus of these efforts is on comprehensive wildlife monitoring, inclusive conservation strategies, and human-wildlife conflict management.
Technology is also increasingly being embedded to strengthen human-wildlife conflict management efforts. The Bagh Mitra app, deployed around Dudhwa and Pilibhit Tiger Reserves in Uttar Pradesh, enables 300 community volunteers to track wildlife movements and provide early warnings to nearby villages. WWF-India is also working on associated technological solutions aimed at helping state forest departments document human-wildlife conflict incidents and track the progress of cases related to ex-gratia payments.
Dr Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF-India, said, "As we look to the future, India's tiger conservation efforts can serve as a blueprint for success. The combination of government support, tech innovation, community participation and strategic planning demonstrates a long-term vision for conservation and for creating a sustainable future where humans and wildlife can coexist harmoniously".
"As tigers continue to thrive in their natural habitats, they remind us that there's always room for hope and positive change, even in the face of environmental challenges", adds Dr Worah.
THE TIGERS ALIVE ANNUAL REPORT IS AVAILABLE HERE - 2024 WWF Tigers Alive Annual Report | WWF
NOTES:
WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative is a coordinated effort bringing together WWF tiger range offices, the rest of the WWF Network, governments, partners, and communities to work towards a shared vision for tigers and people. It’s goal is that by 2034, wild tiger populations and the number of places you find them in are either stable or increasing in 22 landscapes across the tiger's existing and historic range.
https://tigers.panda.org/
