Tiger Conservation Efficacy in Madhya Pradesh

Context:

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) report has brought to light serious issues in the wildlife protection efforts in Madhya Pradesh, particularly after documenting the deaths of 43 tigers at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Shahdol Forest Circle between 2021 and 2023. The report reveals critical lapses in the investigation processes, a lack of sufficient evidence collection, and a worrying absence of accountability among officials tasked with tiger conservation. These findings have raised significant concerns about the effectiveness of current measures in place to protect one of India’s most iconic wildlife species.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Insights from the SIT Report on Tiger Deaths
2. Tiger Mortality Trends in India
3. Project Tiger
4. Concerns Regarding India’s Tiger Protection and Conservation Plans

Insights from the SIT Report on Tiger Deaths

• Investigation Shortcomings: The report highlights that in at least 10 tiger death cases, there was insufficient investigation, leading to only two arrests. This lack of interest by authorities has resulted in several cases with missing body parts.
• Forensic and Data Gaps: There is a notable absence of mobile forensics and electric trip data in cases involving electrocution. Additionally, there is a neglect in investigating land ownership, which is crucial for tackling poaching.
• Misattributed Causes of Death: There’s a recurrent issue of attributing tiger deaths to infighting without thorough investigation, possibly concealing instances of poaching.
• Post-mortem Inadequacies: The procedures for post-mortem are criticized for poor sample collection and inadequate documentation.
• Medical Negligence: There have been instances of medical negligence, such as failures to detect foreign objects during treatment, leading to fatalities among tigers.

Tiger Mortality Trends in India

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has observed an increase in tiger deaths, with the numbers rising annually from 96 in 2019 to a peak of 178 in 2023, the highest since 2012.
• From 2019 to 2024, a total of 628 tigers have died in India, where the tiger population was recorded at 3,682 in 2022, accounting for approximately 75% of the global wild tiger population.
• India initiated Project Tiger in 1973 to bolster tiger conservation efforts.
• There are 55 tiger reserves in India, spanning over 78,735 square kilometers, which is nearly 2.4% of the country’s geographical area dedicated to tiger habitats.

Project Tiger

Introduction:

• Project Tiger is a conservation program launched by the Indian government on April 1, 1973, to protect tigers from extinction due to widespread hunting and poaching.

Objectives:

• The primary objectives of Project Tiger are to promote the conservation of the tiger and its habitat, control the poaching of tigers, and maintain a viable population of tigers in India.

Implementation:

• The program was started in nine tiger reserves of different states in India, covering over 14,000 sq km.
• The project also ensured the preservation of the natural habitat of tigers, which is vital for their survival.

Success and Challenges:

• The program’s success was evident from the rise in the tiger population in India, estimated to be around 3,000 by the 1990s.
• However, the local extermination of tigers in Rajasthan’s Sariska in 2005 was a significant setback.
• To overcome the challenge, the Indian government established the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to reconstitute Project Tiger.

Current Status:

• Today, there are 54 tiger reserves across India, spanning 75,000 sq km.
• The current tiger population in the country stands at 3,167, showing a steady rise from 1,411 in 2006, 1,706 in 2010, and 2,226 in 2014.
• The goal of Project Tiger is to have a viable and sustainable tiger population in tiger habitats based on a scientifically calculated carrying capacity.

Concerns Regarding India’s Tiger Protection and Conservation Plans:

Buffer Area’s Intended Purpose:

• The Buffer Area outside the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) aims to foster human-animal coexistence while respecting the rights of local communities in terms of livelihood, development, social, and cultural aspects.
• However, the overarching ‘fortress conservation’ strategy has inadvertently displaced communities that historically coexisted with tigers.

Long-Term Consequences of ‘Fortress Conservation’:

• The ‘fortress conservation’ approach has led to a rise in man-wildlife conflict incidents as tigers are compelled to inhabit and inherit landscapes that disrupt their natural coexistence with local populations.
• The proliferation of tigers, Tiger Reserves, and connecting corridors is turning India’s tiger territory into a potential hotspot for conflict rather than biodiversity.

Legal Frameworks and Relocation:

• The Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) prohibits relocation, except for “voluntary relocation on mutually agreed terms and conditions” that adhere to legal requirements.
• According to the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act 2013, relocation mandates the consent of affected communities.
• The LARR Act necessitates a comprehensive rehabilitation package, offering financial compensation and ensuring secure livelihoods for those subject to relocation.
• However, these legal provisions are not consistently adhered to in practice, raising concerns about their effective implementation.

-Source: The Hindu