Key Facts
- Largest tiger subspecies in the world and India’s National Animal.
• Found across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan.
• India holds ~75% of global tiger population (as per All-India Tiger Estimation 2022).
• Habitat: Tropical moist forests, mangroves (Sundarbans), grasslands, dry deciduous forests.
• Apex predator—crucial for ecosystem balance.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Threats
- Habitat fragmentation & degradation
• Poaching (skin, bones for illegal wildlife trade)
• Human–tiger conflict
• Loss of prey base
Conservation Measures (India)
- Project Tiger (1973) – flagship program.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) – statutory body.
• 50+ Tiger Reserves under the Core-Buffer model.
• M-STrIPES – monitoring & patrolling.
• Transboundary cooperation (India–Bangladesh for Sundarbans).
Significance
- Umbrella species → protecting tigers protects entire ecosystems.
• Indicator of forest health.
• Cultural & ecological heritage symbol.