India is home to about 70% of the global wild tiger population. The Government of India launched Project Tiger in 1973, as a part of tiger conservation efforts. The initiative led to the establishment of dedicated tiger reserves — protected areas specifically designated for the conservation of tigers and its habitats, with the objective of ensuring a viable natural population of tigers. The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in 2005 for the management of these tiger reserves. Each tiger reserve consists of a proteced core zone, free from human activity, and a buffer zone, where sustainable activities and regulated tourism are allowed.
As of 2025[update], there are 58 tiger reserves, covering 84,500km2 (32,600sqmi). The wild tiger population, which was recorded at 1,411 individuals in 2006, had grown to 3,682 in 2022. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have the most number of tiger reserves with six each. Nagarjunasagar Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, covering 3,296.31km2 (1,272.71sqmi), is the largest by area while the smallest is Orang in Assam, with an area of 492km2 (190sqmi). Jim Corbett holds the largest population of tigers (231), while no tigers were recorded in the Dampa, Buxa, and Palamau tiger reserves.
Amongst the core objectives of the tiger reserves is to protect the tiger population from threats such as poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. These reserves also aim to maintain the ecological integrity of tiger habitats, and to promote education, and awareness about tiger conservation. The tiger reserves also serve as key sites for monitoring tiger populations, studying their behavior, and research such as the impact of climate change and human encroachment on wildlife. These reserves also aim to maintain a genetic diversity by establishing wildlife corridors that allow tigers to migrate and interbreed across landscapes.[2][3]
The tiger reserves consist of a strictly protected core area where human activity is prohibited, and a buffer zone which is a mix of forested and non-forested land. Eco-development and community participation are encouraged in the buffer zones.[1] While the union government provides funding, the state governments are responsible for preparing a Tiger Conservation Plan which includes planning and management of notified areas and maintaining the requisite competent staff to ensure the protection of the tiger reserve and providing inputs for maintaining a viable population of tigers, co-predators and prey animals.[2][3]
In 2006, it was estimated that there were 1,411 tigers living in the wild, the lowest ever recorded.[4] The 2010 national tiger assessment estimated the total population of wild tigers in India at 1,706. The wild tiger population in India was 2,226 in 2014, an increase of 30.5% from the 2010 estimate.[5]
In 2018, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, there were an estimated 2,967 wild tigers in existence in India.[6] As per the 2022 census, there were 3,682 wild tigers in India, which is about 70% of the global wild tiger population.[7] Amongst the tiger reserves, Jim Corbett had the maximum tiger population (231) and the highest density of tigers (14).[8]
Tiger reserves
In 1973, nine protected areas were initially designated as tiger reserves. By the late 1980s, the initial nine reserves covering an area of 9,115km2 (3,519sqmi) had been increased to 15 reserves covering an area of 24,700km2 (9,500sqmi). More than 1,100 tigers were estimated to inhabit the reserves by 1984.[9] By 1997, there were 23 tiger reserves, encompassing an area of 33,000km2 (13,000sqmi).[10]As of March 2025[update], there are 58 protected areas that have been designated as tiger reserves.[11]
↑Thapar, V. (1999). "The tragedy of the Indian tiger: starting from scratch". In Seidensticker, J.; Christie, S.; Jackson, P. (eds.). Riding the Tiger. Tiger Conservation in human-dominated landscapes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp.296–306. ISBN978-0-521-64057-2.
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