A new study published in Science showcases the remarkable recovery of India's tiger population. Despite hosting the highest human population residing in economically diverse regions, India has achieved significant success in conserving wildlife, even as global wildlife populations have declined by 73%.
The study, led by Yadvendradev Jhala and colleagues, explores the socio-ecological factors that have enabled tiger recovery and persistence despite high human densities and economic challenges amid rapid urbanization. Their findings reveal that India's tiger population has increased by 30% over the past two decades. This remarkable success is attributed to a meticulous balance of scientific strategies and a strategic blend of land-sharing and land-sparing.
Since 2006, the Wildlife Institue of India, National Tiger Conservation Authority, State Forest Departments, and conservation NGOs have collaborated to monitor approximately 320,000 square kilometers of tiger habitats every four years. These efforts track changes in tiger populations, their prey, habitat quality, and anthropogenic pressures. This extensive monitoring has generated one of the world’s largest systematic wildlife datasets, informing adaptive conservation strategies, optimizing habitat management, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
The study finds that tiger-occupied habitat has increased by 30% between 2006 and 2018, with the tiger range now spanning approximately 138,200 square kilometers. While human-free reserves remain critical, tigers have successfully recolonized multi-use landscapes with abundant prey and functional corridors. Stable governance, economic growth, and community engagement have driven tiger expansion, whereas poverty and armed conflict have impeded recovery. Community-led conservation has played a crucial role, with local communities near tiger reserves benefiting from ecotourism revenue and compensation for wildlife-induced losses. These government-backed initiatives have fostered a sense of ownership, enhancing tolerance and reducing poaching, thereby supporting tiger conservation efforts.
A Strategic Blend of Land Sparing and Land Sharing
India’s large carnivore conservation model integrates both land sparing and land sharing approaches. Protected areas devoid of human settlements have allowed 85% of breeding populations to thrive. These source populations, facilitated by corridors and sustainable land-use practices, have enabled tigers to disperse into multi-use forests. Currently, tigers coexist with over 66 million people, proving that human-wildlife coexistence is possible.
India’s tiger recovery has been strengthened by a robust legislative framework, including the Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority. These policies have safeguarded habitats, enforced anti-poaching laws, and ensured science-based conservation planning. Beyond ecological factors, economic prosperity and cultural values have significantly influenced tiger persistence, recovery, and recolonization. Regions with lower dependence on forest resources and better socio-economic conditions have witnessed higher tiger recolonization rates. Conversely, areas affected by poverty and armed conflict, such as Naxal-affected parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, have experienced a decline in tiger populations.
“Protected areas, devoid of humans, through land sparing has allowed sustenance of 85% of breeding populations. These source populations facilitated through corridors and sustainable land-use practices have enabled tigers to disperse and expand into multi-use forests. Tigers now coexist with over 66 million people, proving coexistence possible”, says Jhala, INSA Senior Scientist, NCBS, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
Challenges and Future Directions
While India's tiger recovery is an extraordinary achievement, challenges remain. Large tracts of potential tiger habitat spanning 157,000 square kilometers remain devoid of tigers due to socio-political instability and habitat degradation. Scientists recommend key actions to address these challenges, including expanding protected areas and habitat corridors, strengthening anti-poaching measures, promoting sustainable livelihoods for communities living near tiger habitats, and enhancing human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies through early warning systems and rapid response teams.
India’s tiger conservation success extends beyond tigers. As apex predators, tigers maintain ecological balance, supporting coexisting species such as leopards, dholes, and megaherbivores. Protected tiger landscapes also contribute to carbon sequestration, climate resilience, and the preservation of ecosystem services. India’s tiger recovery rekindles hope for global biodiversity conservation. It highlights how science, governance, policy frameworks, and economic incentives can converge to achieve conservation success despite rapid urbanization and human expansion.
"As the world grapples with biodiversity loss and climate change, India’s tiger story serves as a powerful reminder that protecting apex predators is not just about saving one species—it is about securing the intricate web of life that sustains our planet. By prioritizing conservation, sustainable socioeconomics, and a culture of peace and coexistence, we can pave the way for maintaining a biodiverse Anthropocene", says Jhala.
Full Link to the article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk4827
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