(a) whether the tiger conservation project has achieved the desired results;
(b) if so, the present tiger population along with the percentage of increase, State-wise;
(c) the forest corridors available to enable free movement of tigers in the forest, State-wise;
(d) the actual forest area under effective protection required for tiger conservation, State-wise; and
(e) the steps taken to increase the said area?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) & (b) Yes Sir. The assessment of the status of tigers, co-predators and their prey 2014 using the refined methodology has shown a countrywide 30% increase in tiger numbers with an estimated number of 2226 (range 1945-2491) as compared to 2010 estimation of 1706 (range 1520-1909 tigers). The details of tiger estimation pertaining to tiger landscapes in the country for the years 2010 and 2014 are at Annexure-I.
(c) The National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India have recognized at the macro / landscape level, 32 tiger corridors. List of corridors are at Annexure-II. The NTCA and WII have identified potential bottlenecks, obstacles and weak links within these corridors which are, inter-alia due to presence of habitation, poor forest cover, encroachments, land use other than forests and geographical barriers.
(d) The details of tiger reserves in India with area is at Annexure-III.
(e) The in-principle approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of four new tiger reserves, and the sites are: Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), Sunabeda (Odisha), Guru Ghasidas (Chhattisgarh) and Orang (Assam). The State Governments have been advised to send proposals for declaring the following areas as tiger reserves: (i) Suhelwa (Uttar Pradesh), (ii) Mhadei (Goa), (iii) Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel / Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuaries / Varushanadu Valley (Tamil Nadu), (iv) Dibang (Arunachal Pradesh) and (v) Cauveri-MM Hills (Karnataka).
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