India celebrates 50 successful years of "Project Tiger"

Celebrating five decades of tiger conservation India marked the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger on SaturdayWith a current population of about 3000 tigers India is home to more than 70 per cent of the global tiger population and their number is increasing by 6 per cent per annum according to government figuresIndia first launched Project Tiger under the thenprime minister Indira Gandhi on 1 April 1973 in a bit to promote conservation The Independentcouk reportedAlso Read PM Modi to launch 3day mega event on April 9 to mark 50 years of Project TigerWhile it initially covered nine tiger reserves spread over 18278 sq km India now has 53 reserves covering more than 75000 sq km approximately 24 per cent of the countrys geographical areaIn a recent interview with an Indian daily Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said Project Tiger has been successful in bringing tigers back from the brink of extinctionThe Indian government will officially mark the anniversary of the project on 9 April with a threeday event in Mysuru in southern Karnataka state The Independentcouk reported50 years ago Project Tiger was launched by Smt Indira Gandhi for habitat conservation of the Tiger This landmark initiative ensured a viable tiger population for economic scientific cultural amp ecological values Let us continue protecting this majestic animal Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted on SaturdayAt the event prime minister Narendra Modi will release the latest tiger census data and a commemorative coin The Independentcouk reportedYadav said the success of the project should not be viewed in terms of numbers aloneWe believe in the scientific management of tiger reserves and aim to have a tiger population as per the carrying capacity of the habitat he saidThe ministry is bringing all potential tiger habitats under the coverage of the NTCA National Tiger Conservation Authority so that the viable tiger population can be conserved on a sustainable basis he addedOn Saturday the general secretary of the opposition Congress Jairam Ramesh also spoke about the 50th anniversary of the big cat conservation projectTaking to Twitter he posted Fifteen months after she launched Gir Lion Project Indira Gandhi heralded Project Tiger exactly 50 years ago today at Corbett There were 9 tiger reserves then Today there are 53 For her protecting tigers is equal to protecting forests Tiger reserves are 13rd of rich forest areas nowIndia along with other countries with tiger populations including Bangladesh Bhutan China Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Nepal Russia Thailand and Vietnam committed to doubling their number of big cats in 2010 by 2022 The Independentcouk reportedIndia met its target in 2018This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever