International Tiger Day 2023
Description
International Tiger Day 2023
Description: Discover the significance of International Tiger Day 2023, highlighting strides and hurdles in tiger conservation. Get insights from key reports on India's tiger population and the state of its reserves.
International Tiger Day is celebrated to raise awareness about one of the most majestic and endangered creatures on our planet: the tiger. International Tiger Day is observed globally on July 29 every year.
This day provides a platform for people all around the world to emphasise the value of tiger conservation and the immediate need to save these majestic big cats from extinction.
The occasion of International Tiger Day offers us a chance to unite as a global society and consider the importance of protecting these iconic animals and their natural habitats.
History of International Tiger Day
Global Tiger Day, commonly referred to as International Tiger Day, was first established in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit by nations that are home to tigers. The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI), a grouping of nations, international organisations, and conservation organisations committed to tiger conservation, organised the summit, which took place in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Tiger Range Countries (TRCs), or nations with wild tiger populations, gathered during this summit to discuss the worrying global drop in tiger numbers.
The 29th of July was chosen as International Tiger Day because it represents the halfway point between the first and last days of the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit and the ongoing international campaign to rescue tigers
International Tiger Day significance
The world's largest and most recognisable big cats, tigers, are in grave danger, and International Tiger Day serves as a platform to raise awareness of this. People from all walks of life come together to highlight the essential need for tiger conservation on this day because these gorgeous animals are facing grave dangers including habitat degradation, poaching, and illegal wildlife trafficking, which is putting them in danger of going extinct. International Tiger Day aims to mobilise group efforts, foster public support, and promote sustainable initiatives to secure the future of these magnificent animals and preserve the biodiversity of our planet for future generations by bringing attention to the opportunities and challenges in tiger protection.
Management Effectiveness Evaluation
The Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of tiger reserves in India, 2022 (Fifth Cycle) report for Indian tiger reserves prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority revealed a mixed picture of progress and challenges.
On International Tiger Day 2023, two significant reports have brought attention to the state of tiger conservation in India and the challenges it faces.
Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) is adopted from the framework of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas.
MEE is an important tool to assist and improve the management of Tiger Reserves and their associated landscape connectivity.
51 out of 53 Tiger Reserves have been independently evaluated through the MEE process in the fifth cycle in 2022.
For the assessment of the MEE Framework, 33 criteria have been developed and a percentage rating was calculated for each Tiger Reserve from the scores of all 33 criteria/indicators.
Key findings
• The results indicate an overall mean score of 78.01% for 51 Tiger Reserves.
• A total of 12 Tiger Reserves have achieved ‘Excellent’’ category (rating greater than or equal to 90 percent).
• 21 Tiger Reserves were in ‘Very Good’ category (75-89 percent rating).
• 13 Tiger Reserves achieved ‘Good’ category (60-74 percent rating).
• 5 Tiger Reserves were in ‘Fair’ category (50-59 percent rating).
Key findings of All India Tiger Estimation -2022
• The upper limit of the tiger population is estimated to be 3925 and the average number is 3682 tigers, reflecting an annual growth rate of 6.1% per annum.
• India currently harbors almost 75% of the world’s wild tiger population.
• Central India and the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains witnessed a notable increase in tiger population, particularly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra.
• However, certain regions, such as the Western Ghats, experienced localized declines.
• The largest tiger population of 785 is in Madhya Pradesh, followed by Karnataka (563) & Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).
• The tiger abundance within the Tiger Reserve is highest in Corbett (260), followed by Bandipur (150), Nagarhole (141), Bandhavgarh (135), Dudhwa (135).
• Approximately 35% of the tiger reserves urgently require enhanced protection measures, habitat restoration, ungulate augmentation, and subsequent tiger reintroduction.
