Date: 27/03/2023

Relevance: GS-3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution, and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Key Phrases: Project Tiger, Translocation of tigers, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protocol, Conservation of Tiger, Expansion of Habitat, St. Petersburg Declaration, Amrit Kal ka Vision for Tiger conservation, Management Effective Evaluation (2022) of Tiger Reserves.

Why in News?

• In the 50th year of ‘Project Tiger’ in India, the Centre is considering translocating a few big cats to Cambodia, where the species have become extinct in the last decade.

The Extinction of Tigers in Cambodia:

• Cambodia has not seen any tigers since the last one was spotted on a camera trap in 2007.
• The reason behind the disappearance of tigers from the Cambodian landscape is believed to be excessive poaching and loss of habitat.
• However, in 2017, the Cambodian Prime Minister announced the country’s plan to reintroduce the big cat, which led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding with India in November 2022.

Factors to Consider:

• The translocation of tigers to Cambodia is under consideration, and a team from Cambodia has already visited India for negotiations.
• The decision will be taken based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protocol, and many factors will be considered before taking the final decision.
• India is being cautious and considering many factors before making a decision on whether to proceed with the translocation, including verifying whether the reasons for tiger disappearance in Cambodia have been addressed and whether they have the necessary facilities and infrastructure to support the tiger.

Benefits of the Translocation:

• Conservation of Tiger Species:
  • Translocating tigers to Cambodia would assist in conserving the tiger species, which has become extinct in Cambodia.
  • It will also assist in rebuilding the tiger population in the country and maintain the ecological balance.
• International Cooperation:
  • Translocating tigers from India to Cambodia would showcase India's dedication to international cooperation for conservation efforts, and it would assist in establishing relations between the two countries.
• Technical Support:
  • India would provide technical support and knowledge to Cambodia, which would assist in the reintroduction of tigers to the country, enhancing international cooperation.
• Expansion of Habitat:
  • The translocation of tigers from India to Cambodia would lead to the expansion of the habitat for the big cats, allowing for better breeding opportunities, genetic diversity, and conservation.
• Learning Opportunities:
  • Translocating tigers would provide learning opportunities for conservationists, researchers, and wildlife enthusiasts.
  • It would also provide a platform for knowledge-sharing and increase public awareness about tiger conservation.

Project Tiger

• Project Tiger is one of India's most successful conservation projects for the carnivorous mammal that has been threatened globally.
• The project was launched in 1973, covering nine tiger reserves spread over 18,278 square kilometres.
• Today, there are 53 tiger reserves covering more than 75,000 square kilometers (approximately 2.4% of India's geographical area) across the country.

Milestones and Achievements:

• The 50th year of Project Tiger will be celebrated on April 1, 2023.
• The project has been successful in doubling India's wild tiger population in a span of about 12 years, much before the targeted year of 2022, as per St. Petersburg Declaration.
• The success of the project has made it one of the most successful conservation projects for carnivores in the world.

International Summit to Commemorate 50 Years of Project Tiger

• The ministry announced a three-day international summit to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger, which will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister at Mysuru in Karnataka.
• The event will be attended by all state environment ministers and officials as well as representatives of international wildlife conservation and protection organizations and non-profits.
• The summit will witness the release of the much-awaited tiger estimation (census) data for 2022 - the fifth cycle assessment of the tiger population in the country.
• Apart from the latest tiger estimation numbers, the ministry will also release the Management Effective Evaluation (2022) of Tiger Reserves, Amrit Kal ka Vision for Tiger conservation, and the release of a Rs 50 commemorative coin on Project Tiger.

Other Efforts in Tiger Conservation

• India has the largest number of Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) -accredited tiger reserves in the world at 17, and more tiger reserves are in the process of being declared or added to the existing list.
• To aid tiger conservation, compensation for voluntary village relocation has been enhanced from Rs 10 lakh per family to Rs 15 lakh.

Conclusion:

• The translocation of tigers to Cambodia could provide an opportunity for India to extend its conservation efforts beyond its borders and assist in the reintroduction of the species to a country where it has become extinct.

Source: The Indian Express

Mains Question:

Q. Describe the measures taken by the Indian government for the conservation of tigers in the country. Critically evaluate the success of Project Tiger and its impact on the conservation of tigers in India.