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The population of wild tigers in India has exceeded 3,000 individuals, according to an official census. It is the largest in the world.
In total, India has counted no less than 3,167 tigers in the wild. When last counted four years ago using cameras and computer systems, the number of wild tigers in India was 2,967.
This increase rewards efforts to protect endangered species initiated in 2010 by India and twelve other tiger host countrieswhose goal was to double the tiger population by 2022. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to a ” proud moment ». « Our family is growing he said at a ceremony in the southern city of Mysore. ” It is an achievement not only for India but also for the whole world ».
75% of the world’s tigers in India
In the past, most tigers were found in Central, East and South Asia. But its population has been reduced by more than 93% in the past 100 years and it is now only present in 13 countries, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Thus, India now hosts 75% of the world’s tigers and asserts itself as the largest host country in terms of area, added the Prime Minister.
In 1900, more than 100,000 tigers roamed the planet. But that number dropped to 3,200 in 2010 due to deforestation, poaching and human intrusion into their natural habitat. It was in 2006 that it reached the most critical threshold with only 1,411 animals counted.
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(With AFP)