Govt took several measures to protect tiger habitats: Environment Minister
India has taken several measures, including bringing out guidelines for tiger safaris to reduce the pressure of eco-tourism, protect tiger habitats, and conserve their population, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said today on International Tiger Day. He said India is among the few countries having natural tiger habitats, adding the big cats are part of India's heritage and protecting them is everyone's responsibility.
Govt to double tiger population in India
Vardhan recently said the government has set a target of doubling the tiger population in the country. On the occasion of International Tiger Day, in a series of tweets, he spoke about the steps taken by the government to protect tigers.
Tigers are national heritage and their protection our responsibility: Vardhan
Measures being undertaken to protect tiger habitats, conserve its population
Preliminary census data showed rise in tiger population
The preliminary census data of the ongoing tiger census has shown a rise in the population of the big cats in the country, which is a "big thing", Vardhan had said a few days back. In the run-up to International Tiger Day this year, several events had been organized to raise awareness among the younger generation, an official statement earlier said.
Why is July 29 celebrated as Global Tiger Day?
In 2010, at St. Petersburg in Russia, the heads of Governments of Tiger Range states, including India, resolved to strive to double the number of wild tigers (T X 2) across their global range by the year 2022. They had signed the St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation, which also decided to celebrate July 29 as Global Tiger Day.
India has significantly contributed to the TX2 target
India resolved to safeguard tiger habitat and source populations to foster viable tiger population during the Global Stock Taking meeting held in 2012 at New Delhi to review progress in terms of the St. Petersburg Declaration. India launched Project Tiger in 1973 to conserve tigers. Till now, the coverage of Project Tiger increased from nine reserves to 50 tiger reserves spread across 18 states.
