Visiting a national park or tiger reserve? Spotting the powerful tigers is something we all look forward to. There are day and night safaris introduced only for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts to spot tigers in their natural habitat. Recently, the government presented data saying India had lost a total of 329 tigers in the last three years. And also stated, that the reasons for this loss include poaching, along with other natural and unnatural causes.
96 Tigers Died In 2019, 106 in 2020 & 127 In 2021
The Government presented the number of tiger deaths in the last three years. Also, around 197 tiger deaths are under scrutiny at present. What came as relief was the fact that the poaching numbers have come down over the years. But, there have been a large number of deaths due to attacks in states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, it is not only tigers which have been affected, but 222 elephants also died in the last three years.
A number of factors led to their deaths like electrocution, poaching, poisoning etc. The states which have reported elephant deaths include Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal.
Also Read: 5 Wildlife Sanctuaries In Maharashtra For Tiger Spotting
Are Tigers Really Endangered?
While the numbers in India presented by the government seem to be a little concerning, there was another report that stated the tiger population has increased. Well, this is great news for conservationists, NGOs, and governments worldwide. The last assessment of the tiger population was done in 2015 and after the recent evaluation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature shows a jump of 40% increase. According to the latest figures, there are between 3,726 and 5,578 tigers in the world. The IUCN, however, still listed tigers on the Red List and told that tigers are still endangered, but their population is seeing a steady rise and stabling.
As the tiger population saw a significant rise, the IUCN in its list of endangered species named the monarch butterfly. When a species is tagged endangered, it means the species is closer to extinction.
Reports suggest that climate change is one of the major reasons behind such adverse changes in nature.
Also Read – 8 Natural Phenomena Worth Witnessing Once In Your Life