Among the most important tiger ranges with a high density of 297 tigers over 5,177 sp km. Uttarakhand has 178 tigers, UP 109, Bihar 10

Total: 297

Highlight: The only demographically viable population in Northwestern India. The Corbett tiger reserve alone has an estimated population of 164 tigers spread over 1,524 sq km. The tiger census suggests a buffer zone of 1,000 sq km for Corbett. The tiger has become locally extinct in 29 per cent of the region’s districts Potential tiger habitat: 20,800 km

Challenges:

The Dudhwa-Valmiki landscape is now connected only via Nepal forests, and needs to be managed through international cooperation with Nepal

Central India landscape

451 tigers in 47,122 sq km

Highlight: the Kanha- Pench landscape (3,880 sq km) with an estimated population of 121 tigers

Tigers have become locally extinct from 30 per cent of the districts in the area

Western Ghats landscape

366 tigers occupy 21,435 sq km of forests within the Western Ghats

Potential tiger habitat: 51,000 sq km for tigers

Highlight: The single largest population of tigers in India— a good example of inter-state tiger reserves is within this landscape comprising the Nagarhole-Madumalai-Bandipur-Waynad reserve spread over Karnataka, Tamil-Nadu and Kerala. An estimated 280 tigers live within 10,800 sq km in the reserve

Total in region: 402. Karnataka 290 tigers, Kerala 46, Tamil Nadu 76 Tigers have become extinct from 17 per cent of the districts

North-East Hills

Assam has 70 tigers, Arunachal Pradesh 14, Mizoram 6 and West Bengal 10

Total: 100 tigers over 4,230 sq km

Tigers have become locally extinct from 22.5 per cent of the districts Challenges: The tiger population in the Sunderbans needs to be managed and counted through international cooperation with Bangladesh

Eastern Ghats

Tigers occupy 7,772 sq km of forests with an estimated population size of 53. The area has the potential for a 15,000-sq km tiger habitat Combined with the Central landscape, Andhra Pradesh has 95 tigers, Chhattisgarh 26, MP 300, Maharashtra 103, Orissa 45, Rajasthan 32

Total in Central India, Eastern Ghats: 601

Individual Population

Promising areas

Individual tiger populations that have high probability of long term persistence by themselves are: Nagarhole-Madumalai-Bandipur-Waynad (Karnataka-Tamil Nadu- Kerala), Corbett population (Uttarakhand), Kanha population (MP), and possibly Sunderbans and Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong populations (Assam-West Bengal)

Needs Attention

Landscapes that have potential but need conservation are Sirsailam Nagarjun Sagar, (Andhra Pradesh), Simlipal (Orissa), Ranthambore (Rajasthan), Indravati (Northern Andhra Pradesh) and Bandhavgarh (MP)

The beginning 1973

The Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973 and has become one of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted tiger reserves representative of various bio-geographical regions throughout India. It strives to maintain a viable tiger population in their natural environment

Project Tiger reserves 27

Initially, the Project started with 9 tiger reserves. At present there are 27 tiger reserves covering an area of 37,761 sq km.

Tiger reserves are constituted on a 'core-buffer' strategy. The core area is kept free of biotic disturbances and forestry operations

Reserves:

• Bandipur, • Corbett, • Kanha • Manas • Melghat • Palamau • Ranthambhore •Similipal • Sunderbans •Periyar • Sariska • Buxa •Indravati • Nagarjunsagar •Namdapha • Dudhwa • Kalakad-Mundanthurai • Valmiki • Pench • Tadoba-Andhari • Bandhavgarh • Panna • Dampha • Bhadra • Pench • Pakhui-Nameri •Bori Satpura, Pachmari

Anti-Poaching Law

Offences pertaining to hunting of endangered species and altering of boundaries of protected areas For offences relating to wild animals (or their parts and products) the punishment and penalty have been enhanced, the minimum imprisonment prescribed is three years which may extend to seven years, with a minimum fine of Rs 10,000