https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Protecting the Striped Cats Still a Big Challenge 

Indian Masterminds Stories

It’s not that tigers have started attacking human beings only now. They used to attack even during ancient times, centuries ago. Also, such incidents are rarely reported, and few isolated incidents can’t set examples. Not only tigers, many other wildlife species like lion, elephant, snake, monkey, bear, wild boar, etc., also attack human beings. It is a complex system of human-wildlife conflict. With our increased population, we, human beings, have invaded many of the natural habitats of wildlife. 

If we can have a better management plan and a modern tracking and monitoring mechanism in place, we can easily handle such conflict situations. Besides this, the bigger question is maintaining the ecosystem, and for that, efforts towards conservation and protection of the tiger is important. 

VISIONARY PROJECT

Towards this objective, ‘Project Tiger’ was started way back in 1973 with a vision to have a viable population of the Royal Bengal Tiger in its natural habitats, protecting it from extinction, and preserving areas of biological importance as natural heritage of India that represent the diversity of ecosystems across the tiger population range in the country. 

We have come a long way and achieved considerably to ensure the success of this visionary project. Now, we can proudly say that India has a viable population of Royal Bengal Tigers. However, it’s not only the tigers which are getting protected by this project, it’s the entire forest ecosystem and the associated biodiversity that are being protected as a whole. In any forest ecosystem, we can’t separate out a single species of either flora or fauna for its protection. The tiger being the flagship species of the forest, its protection is highly essential for the survival of the whole forest ecosystem. 

Damodar K.T. (IFS)

As countrymen, we take pride in having more than 90% of the world population of the charismatic Royal Bengal Tiger. Though the number of tigers have increased significantly, in order to protect the whole existing forest ecosystem and the other associated wildlife species; to have continued research on scientific and social issues associated with human-wildlife conflicts; and to manage the tiger reserves which have been created under this project as per the management plan, the Project Tiger will always be relevant for ever and ever.

PLAN FOR NEXT 50 YEARS

We can easily say that we have achieved the physical target of doubling the population of Royal Bengal Tigers by 2020. However, it’s not only the physical number which matters. The Protected Areas network of the country is only around 5% of the total forest area, and within that, tiger habitats at present is less than 1% of this total forest area. There are as many potential forest areas and Protected Area networks adjacent to the existing tiger habitats (which used to be tiger habitats centuries before), wherein the tigers can find new habitats and spread over. As we have read during our childhood days, tiger is the real King of Jungle, or in other words, it’s like a Headman in the Forest Family. Without them, the forest looks empty. Accordingly, if consensus arises among the scientific community, we may fix another physical target for the next 50 years, with a proper comprehensive management plan, associated with scientific research, for maintaining sustainable tiger population in all the tiger habitats-based Protected Area networks.

(This article has been written by IFS officer Damodar A. T., who is the secretary of Environment and Forests, Lakshadweep)


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, RCF
Leadership updates: Sipra Bajpai Appointed Independent Director at Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd to Boost Governance
HAL award
Hindustan Shipyard (HSL) Wins 'Shipbuilding Company of the Year' at Maritime Excellence Awards 2025
GAIL_(India)
GAIL Showcases Sustainable Polymer Solutions at KPLEX 2025 in Kochi, Reinforces Commitment to Circular Economy
Railtel
RailTel Secures ₹103.4 Crore Smart City Projects in Panvel and Nashik; Stock Rises Over 2%- Know More
MP-Police-
MP: 15 State Police Officers in Consideration for IPS Promotion, Only 5 to Be Selected | See Full List
IFS Abhishek Singh
IFS Abhishek Singh Appointed India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Africa’s Largest Economy - Know His Profile
Andhra Pradesh govt
Andhra Pradesh Transfers 11 IFS Officers in Major Forest Dept Reshuffle; Rajendra Prasad Named MD, Environment Development Corporation
SJVN Ltd
SJVN Strengthens Board with Appointment of IAS Officer Shubh Karan Singh as Part-time Official Director
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
How Modern Forensics Helps Police Solve Crimes – IPS Officer Shikha Goel Explains | Video Interview
IPS Shikha Goel
Decoding Digital Dangers: Insights from IPS Shikha Goel on Cyber Crimes
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
Managing Elections, Communal Tensions, and Public Safety – Meet IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ishwarlal Gurjar UPSC
10th Grade Failure to Indian Police Service: Ishwarlal Gurjar’s UPSC Success Path
Read the inspiring journey of Ishwarlal Gurjar from a small village in Rajasthan to becoming an IPS officer....
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
Social Media
IAS Medha Roopam
IAS Medha Roopam’s Inspiring Dedication in Flood-Hit Noida Goes Viral: Focuses on Relief, Education Amid Heavy Rains
Books in One Hand, Umbrella in Other: Noida DM Medha Roopam Leads Flood Relief from the Front
IAS Sakshi Sawhney Amritsar DC
Punjab Floods: IAS Sakshi Sawhney’s Emotional Appeal to Elderly Man Wins Hearts, Video of Humanity Goes Viral
Viral Video Captures Emotional Moment as Amritsar DC Shows Sensitivity and Courage Amid Relief Effor...
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, RCF
Leadership updates: Sipra Bajpai Appointed Independent Director at Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd to Boost Governance
HAL award
Hindustan Shipyard (HSL) Wins 'Shipbuilding Company of the Year' at Maritime Excellence Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
IPS Shikha Goel
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT