NEWS

The National Tiger Conservation Authority recorded 126 tiger deaths this year, the highest since it began collecting the data for the same a decade ago

DETAILS

• Tiger deaths in the country this year have gone up by 48 per cent jump as compared to 2020.
• India is home to a third of the global tiger population and the estimated tiger population stood at 2,967 as per 2018 tiger census.
• Madhya Pradesh leads the states in tiger numbers as per 2018 figures. This year, the State also led in tiger deaths and saw 42 fatalities.
• MP was followed by Maharashtra at 26 deaths and Karnataka at 15 deaths
• As per NTCA, poaching accounted for the death of 57 tigers of the total 303 reported from 2018 to 2020.
• As per WPSI data, the 111 tiger deaths included 31 poaching cases and body parts seizures in 2020.
• Besides poaching, man-animal conflict, road kills, accidents, degraded habitats, falling prey base and natural causes also play a huge role in tiger numbers.

ABOUT NTCA

• Launched in 2005
• Following recommendations of the Tiger Task Force
• Given statutory status by 2006 amendment of the Wildlife Protection Act.
• Environment Minister is the Chairman
• Below chairman are eight experts or professionals having qualifications and experience in wildlife conservation and welfare of people including tribals, apart from three Members of Parliament (1 Rajya Sabha, 2 Lok Sabha)
• The Inspector General of Forests, in charge of project Tiger, serves as ex-officio Member Secretary.

Functions

• Overarching body for conservation of tigers in India
• Main administrative function is to approve the Tiger Conservation Plan prepared by the State Governments and then evaluate and assess various aspects of sustainable ecology and disallow any ecologically unsustainable land use such as, mining, industry and other projects within the tiger reserves.
• Tiger Conservation Plans sent by state government need to be approved by the NTCA first. Alternatively, Central Government via NTCA may advise the state governments to forward a proposal for creation of Tiger Reserves. Every year, the Central Government puts the annual report of the National Tiger Conservation Authority in each House of Parliament.
• Regulation and standardization of tourism activities
• Provide for management focus and measures for addressing conflicts of men and wild animals.
• Provide information on protection measures.
• Ensure that the tiger reserves and areas linking one protected area or tiger reserve with another protected area or tiger reserve are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses, except in public interest and with the approval of the National Board for Wild Life and on the advice of the Tiger Conservation Authority.
• Facilitate and support the tiger reserve management in the State.
• Ensure critical support including scientific, information technology and legal support for better implementation of the tiger conservation plan.