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| WWF: Tiger drinks at Bandhavagargh NP |
India's National Tiger Conservation Authority conducted a tiger census that shows its tiger population has increased to 1,706 from the last tiger census in 2007. For the first time the survey included non-tiger reserves and areas outside of national parks. The increase is not solely attributable to counting tigers in previously excluded areas, as some previously counted populations showed increases. Despite the overall good news, the survey also showed an increase in human-tiger conflicts around reserves and a reduction in the total area occupied by tigers. WWF supported the survey and the head of its Asian species conservation program said strong protection of core tiger areas and corridors which link them can halt tiger's decline in numbers. The good news announcement was made at the beginning of a follow-on meeting of tiger range countries in New Delhi as part of the Global Tiger Recovery Program created at Mr. Putin's tiger summit in November. Urgent, international cooperation is needed if the tiger is to be saved from extinction in the wild. Tigers have lost more than 97% of their numbers, and 94% of their home range in just 100 years.
