A week ago wildlife groups went on to say that for the first time in a century, there has been an increase in the number of wildcats worldwide, reported PTI.
India is a home to half of these species.
The WWF and Global Tiger Forum said, "the number of wild tigers has been revised to 3,890, based on the best available data". According to them this increase can be attributed to enhanced protection, improved surveys, and increase in tiger population in India, Russia, Nepal and Bhutan.
"For the first time after decades of constant decline, tiger numbers are on the rise. This offers us great hope and shows that we can save species and their habitats when governments, local communities and conservationists work together," said Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International.
While India's homes the highest number of tigers i.e. 2,226, Russia holds the second highest number of wildcats at 433. Indonesia has 371 tigers while Malaysia 250. Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh and Bhutan have 198, 189, 106 and 103 tigers respectively.
Three days back, an eight-month-old orphaned tiger cub died of blood infection at Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier in April, a tigress's carcass was found at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra's Chandrapur. Her lifeless body was seen floating on water.
In last one year, Madhya Pradesh alone has lost around 16 tigers to poaching and other causes. Within a few months of 2016, many cases of tiger deaths have been reported.
To achieve the goal of doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022, a goal that was set during a Tiger Summit in Russia in 2010 by the governments, still a lot needs to be done.
In fact, world renowned conservation zoologist and leading tiger expert based in Bengaluru, Dr K Ullas Karanth, Director for Science-Asia for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), believes the goal is not realistic.
"None of the populations have been observed to 'double' in 10 years, even under best of protection," said Dr Karanth, reported Firstpost.
