International Tiger Day 2025

Source: ET

Context: India is celebrating International Tiger Day 2025 on July 29, highlighting its achievement of housing 75% of the world’s wild tigers across 58 reserves.

About International Tiger Day 2025:

• What is it? A global awareness day observed annually on July 29, aiming to raise awareness about tiger protection and habitat conservation.

• A global awareness day observed annually on July 29, aiming to raise awareness about tiger protection and habitat conservation.

• Established in: 2010, during the Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia, with participation from 13 tiger-range countries, including India.

• Key Features:

• Platform to highlight threats like habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Monitors progress on the Tx2 Goal—to double wild tiger populations by 2022. Celebrates efforts made by countries in increasing tiger numbers and protecting forests.

• Platform to highlight threats like habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.

• Monitors progress on the Tx2 Goal—to double wild tiger populations by 2022.

• Celebrates efforts made by countries in increasing tiger numbers and protecting forests.

• India’s Tiger Conservation Journey: Project Tiger (Launched in 1973):

• Project Tiger (Launched in 1973):

• Started with 9 reserves, expanded to 58 tiger reserves. Governed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Reserves now cover 2% of India’s land area.

• Started with 9 reserves, expanded to 58 tiger reserves.

• Governed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

• Reserves now cover 2% of India’s land area.

• Major Achievements:

• Doubled tiger population: From ~1,400 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2024. Achieved the global Tx2 target ahead of schedule. Tigers occupy 138,200 sq. km of forest shared with ~60 million people.

• Doubled tiger population: From ~1,400 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2024.

• Achieved the global Tx2 target ahead of schedule.

• Tigers occupy 138,200 sq. km of forest shared with ~60 million people.

• Ecological Significance:

• Tigers regulate herbivore populations, preserving forest balance. Healthy tiger habitats support biodiversity, improve climate resilience, and act as carbon sinks. Forests act as water catchments, helping nearby agriculture and communities.

• Tigers regulate herbivore populations, preserving forest balance.

• Healthy tiger habitats support biodiversity, improve climate resilience, and act as carbon sinks.

• Forests act as water catchments, helping nearby agriculture and communities.

• India’s Role in Global Conservation:

• Contributes 75% of world’s tiger population, while holding only 18% of global tiger habitat. India’s model, combining scientific management, legal protection, and community participation, is emulated by other tiger-range nations.

• Contributes 75% of world’s tiger population, while holding only 18% of global tiger habitat.

• India’s model, combining scientific management, legal protection, and community participation, is emulated by other tiger-range nations.