Sun Jul 27 19:09:00 UTC 2025: **Headline: India’s Tiger Population Roars Back from Brink of Extinction**
**New Delhi, July 28, 2025** – India’s decades-long conservation efforts, spearheaded by the ambitious Project Tiger, have yielded remarkable results, with the nation now harboring approximately 75% of the world’s tiger population. Launched in 1973 after a drastic decline in tiger numbers, Project Tiger has transformed India’s landscape, dedicating over 2% of its landmass to tiger reserves, an area comparable in size to the state of Jharkhand.
In the early 20th century, India’s tiger population was estimated to be around 40,000 – 100,000. However, by 1972, unchecked hunting and habitat loss had decimated the population to a mere 1,827. This prompted the government to launch Project Tiger, with the primary goal of protecting the Bengal tiger and its habitat.
The project’s success is evident in the latest population estimates, ranging from 3,167 to 3,925 tigers. This resurgence is attributed to the establishment of over 50 tiger reserves across 18 states, managed with a core-buffer strategy that balances conservation with local needs.
Key to this success was Kailash Sankhala (1925-1994), known as “The Tiger Man of India,” whose early advocacy and research paved the way for Project Tiger. As the project’s first director, he established a nationwide network of protected areas and implemented crucial conservation strategies.
Project Tiger has not only boosted tiger numbers but also raised awareness about tiger conservation and the importance of maintaining a healthy ecological balance.
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