International Tiger Day is observed every year all over the world on July 29. International Tiger Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness about the conservation of tigers, which have been declared an endangered species in many parts of the world. Also known as Global Tiger Day, the special day holds immense significance, as over the last 150 years the world has witnessed a massive drop in the tiger population. Amid the declining number of tigers, several nations have taken crucial measures towards curbing poaching, habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and avoiding human-animal conflicts. These measures have shown a positive result in the conservation of tigers in many countries. According to a WWF study, without mitigation efforts, projected sea level rise—nearly a foot by 2070—could destroy nearly the entire Sundarbans tiger habitat.
According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), 75 tigers have died across the country this year, while 127 died last year, the highest in the last decade. Madhya Pradesh, which has six tiger reserves, and the highest population of tigers in the country, recorded 202 deaths between 2012 and 2020, followed by Maharashtra (141), Karnataka (123), Uttarakhand (93), Assam (60), Tamil Nadu (62), Uttar Pradesh (44) and Kerala (45). Madhya Pradesh has lost 68 tigers in the last one-and-a-half years, while Maharashtra has seen 42 tiger deaths in this period.
Highlights of International Tiger Day 2022 also include a three-fold increase in the world’s largest tiger reserve in China and Russia. With the aid of the Spatial Monitor and Report Tool, Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park monitors the expansion of its population. Through International Tiger Day, we can work toward a time when tigers and people can co-exist in harmony.
