GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 255

ANSWERED ON:27.02.2008

TIGER CENSUS REPORT

(a) whether the Government has recently released tiger census report;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the total number of tigers at present in the country as per census report;

(c) the methodology adopted by the Government to have exact number of tigers in the country;

(d) whether the wildlife conservationists have urged the Government to initiate steps to save tigers and also to increase their population; and

(e) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

ANSWER

 MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI S. REGUPATHY)

(a) Yes Sir.

(b) The details are at Annexure-I.The total country-level population of tiger is 1411 (mid value); the lower and upper limits are 1165 and 1657 respectively.

(c) The methodology involves double sampling.All forested habitats in 17 tiger States have been surveyed for tiger signs, prey presence and human pressures to determine tiger occupancy and generation of indices. Remotely sensed data and attribute data of variables were modeled in the GIS domain along with tiger occupancy / indices. Subsequently, tiger densities were estimated in representative areas based on the indices, using camera traps in a statistical framework. These densities were then correlated with above indices and extrapolated for contiguous, similar landscapes.

(d)&(e) The Government has been receiving suggestions from people belonging to various walks of life,including conservationists, for tiger conservation.The milestone initiatives taken in this regard are at Annexure-II.