Why in news?
International Tiger Day, observed every year on 29 July, drew special attention in 2025 because India announced that it hosts three‑quarters of the world’s wild tigers across 58 tiger reserves. The day celebrates conservation successes and reminds the world of the challenges that remain.
What is International Tiger Day?
The day was established in 2010 at the St Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia. It aims to raise awareness about tiger conservation, highlight threats such as habitat loss and poaching and monitor progress towards the global “Tx2” goal of doubling wild tiger populations by 2022.
India’s journey
- Project Tiger: Launched in 1973 with nine reserves, the project now covers 58 reserves that occupy about 2% of India’s land area and are overseen by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
- Population growth: India’s wild tiger population increased from roughly 1,400 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2024, meaning the country achieved the Tx2 target ahead of schedule.
- Shared landscapes: Tigers in India inhabit about 138,000 sq km of forests, where they coexist with almost 60 million people. Conservation requires balancing wildlife needs with human livelihoods.
Why tigers matter
- Apex predator: Tigers regulate populations of herbivores, helping to maintain the balance of ecosystems.
- Biodiversity and climate: Healthy tiger habitats support diverse species, enhance climate resilience and act as carbon sinks.
- Water security: Forests that shelter tigers often serve as watersheds that supply rivers and irrigation to neighbouring farms and villages.
India’s global role
- Leader in conservation: Although India hosts only 18% of the world’s tiger habitat, it shelters about 75% of the global tiger population. Its model of scientific management, legal protection and community participation is being emulated by other tiger‑range countries.
- Continued challenges: Habitat fragmentation, poaching and human–wildlife conflict remain major threats. Ensuring sustainable livelihoods for forest communities and connecting fragmented habitats through ecological corridors are key priorities.
International Tiger Day 2025 is both a celebration of India’s conservation achievements and a reminder that protecting tigers requires constant vigilance and community engagement.