Project Tiger
Initially launched in 9 Tiger reserves (TRs) in different states of India. Provides central assistance to tiger range States for in-situ conservation of tigers.
Type of scheme- It is a Centrally Sponsored scheme, launched in 1973.
Ministry: MoEFCC
Objective: To ensure the maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India.
Implementing Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). NTCA has an overarching supervisory/coordination role and approves the Tiger Conservation Plan prepared by the State Governments.
Funding pattern: Centre provides financial assistance to States of 60% and 50% for expenditure on all non- recurring items and recurring items respectively. North-eastern and Himalayan States are provided 90% central assistance in both cases.
Read a complete Guide on UR Category here.
Activities undertaken under Project Tiger
- Establishment and development of new Tiger Reserves (55 in total). 55th being Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve.
- Core-buffer strategy for Tiger reserves: Core areas are kept free of all human activities, a co-existence agenda adopted in buffer and fringe areas with a landscape approach. Further NTCA banned new construction in tiger reserves’ core areas.
- Assessment is done using GPS based application M-STRIPES (Monitoring System For Tiger Intensive Protection and Ecological Status).
- Independent monitoring/evaluation of tiger reserve by developing Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) Framework.
- Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) deployed in several Tiger Reserves for focused anti-poaching operations.
- The E-Bird project uses Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for Surveillance and Monitoring.
Status of Tiger Reserves and Population
- Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tiger population followed by Karnataka and uttarakhand.
- Reserve with highest tiger population – Jim Corbett
- Total tiger reserves in India are 55.
- India is now home to three-quarters (75%) of the world’s tigers.
- The average population of Tiger is estimated to be 3682.
Project Elephant
It was launched in 1992 by MoEFCC
Type of scheme- A Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Support and Coverage: Financial and Technical support are being provided to major elephant-bearing States in the country. Presently the Project is being implemented in 22 States/UTs.
Steering Committee: Includes representatives of the Government as well as non-government wildlife experts and scientists.
The Project Elephant (PE) was launched with following objectives:
- To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors
- To address issues of man-animal conflict
- Welfare of captive elephants
Elephant reserves in India:
- Declared as an administrative category by the government to demarcate large landscapes that hold elephants and their movements.
- There are 33 elephant reserves (cover a total area of nearly 80,000 sq km). (Latest one being Terai Elephant Reserve).
- The estimated population of wild elephants in the country has increased to 29964 in 2017 as compared to 27669-27719 in 2007.
- Highest number of ERs: Tamil Nadu and Assam (5 each) followed by Kerala (4) and Odisha (3).
- Elephant Corridors of India
West Bengal has the highest number of elephant corridors.
There are 6 transnational corridors between India and Nepal.
Recent News- The Centre has merged Project Tiger and Project Elephant.
A new division named ‘Project Tiger and Elephant Division’ (PT&E) created under the MoEF&CC. The staff and divisional heads of Project Elephant (PE) will report to the additional director general of forests (ADGF), Project Tiger (PT), who has now been designated as ADGF (PT&E).
